Kinuha ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. si dating presidential spokesman Harry Roque bilang kanyang private counsel.
Nagtungo si Roque sa kanyang Facebook page para inanunsyong binayaran siya ng Pangulo ng P20 bilang isang retainer.
Ayon sa post na ibinahagi ni Roque kalakip ang larawan ng 20-peso bill, “I confirm that I have been retained as private counsel of PBBM for the pricely sum of 20 pesos.”
“As such, all my conversations with the President on legal matters are covered by atty-client confidentiality,” dagdag pa niya.
Samantala, nag-post si Roque ng picture na kasama sa pulong ang ilang matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, kasama si Pangulong Marcos sa Malacañang noong Hulyo 27. Makikita dito sina Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, Solicitor General Menardo Guevara, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, at Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Ang pagpupulong ay tungkol umano sa imbestigasyon ng International Criminal Court (ICC) sa drug war ng nakaraang Duterte Administration. Gayunpaman, walang impormasyon inilabas ang Malacañang kaugnay sa nasabing pagpupulong.
Ayon kay Roque, nasa meeting siya bilang isang private counsel.
“Productive meeting with PBBM, ES, Sol- Gen, SFA, SOJ and Presidential Legal Counsel. Was there as private counsel.”
Ayon sa ulat ng Manila Buletin, hindi makumpirma ni Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles kung kinuha nga ni Marcos si Roque.
“As you know, any communication between attorney and client is privileged and therefore confidential. Therefore, we cannot even confirm whether or not he has been hired as counsel,” aniya.
“That will be really up to the client to make the announcement, and no such announcement has been made yet,” dagdag pa ni Press Secretary.
Si Roque ay tumakbong senador sa ilalim ng UniTeam lineup ni Marcos noong 2022 polls, ngunit hindi nanalo noong eleksyon.