Why give Harry Roque more screen time?

JEERS TO TV5 for giving Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque more screen time, as though the media were not already providing him too much of that by religiously covering his daily press briefings and interviews.

The presidential spokesperson mans a bully pulpit in behalf of the most powerful official of the country. On the assumption that whatever the prominent and powerful say is of public interest and value, the media habitually give him plenty of space and time to explain, modify and even deny whatever his patron says during one of his incoherent ramblings. But as he and his predecessor have amply demonstrated since 2016, that has mostly been a forlorn hope.

And yet, in addition to his frequent appearances in print and television, Roque was even the guest of Luchi Cruz-Valdez last March 24 in ‘Deretsahan’, a segment of TV5’s evening newscast Frontline Pilipinas. That program has featured other government officials such as NTF Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. and Contact Tracing Czar Benjamin Magalong.

In having Roque as guest, the program drew more public attention to another government official who is already more visible than even President Duterte himself, and who used the six minutes and 37 seconds he was on air for self-puffery and little else.

Asked about the unity of the members of the Cabinet, for example, the spokesperson made clear his feelings by making a face and refusing to name names, but dismissing those he “absolutely abhors” while claiming that some are “truly brilliant.” Ergo, it was a huge waste of media time.