Roque on senatorial polls: It's about popularity, not qualifications

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 24) — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who is considering a senatorial bid, couldn't hide his emotions when asked about the results of the latest Pulse Asia's senatorial poll.

Senator Grace Poe topped the survey which included 66 possible candidates. The other names included in the Top 5 were Senator Cynthia Villar, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, Senator Nancy Binay, and Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Roque said the leading candidates in the survey are those who come from prominent political families. He lamented how children of senators, relatives of presidents, and popular actors usually end up at the top of senatorial surveys.

"'Yan po ay sukatan ng kasikatan. Hindi po yan sukatan ng kwalipikasyon. Democracy in the Philippines can be very expensive and depends on who your parents are," he said in a media briefing.

Roque then belittled the qualifications of those in the top 12.

"Tingnan niyo naman kung sino yung nangangalampag. Bukod sa kanilang relasyon sa kanilang mga ama, ano naman ang kakayahan ang pinakita nila? Ano naman ang mga batas na naipasa nila? Ano bang naririnig ninyong batas na ginawa nila? Puro investigation. Puro pastariray. Excuse me, kaya po walang nangyayari dito sa ating bayan dahil kulang ng mga bagong polisiya," he said.

The presidential spokesperson, however, stressed Sara Duterte is "very much qualified" for the post.

Roque, who landed at the 29th-26th spots, said he wasn't surprised he placed that far down.

"It doesn't surprise me. I'm just an ordinary human being. I don't belong to any political family. I'm not rich. I'm not surprised," he said.