Roque questions gov’t decision to send 35 delegates to Hague

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda

MANILA — Lawyer Harry Roque questioned the government’s decision to send 35 delegates to The Hague, Netherlands for the hearing on the country’s petition against China.

“With only 2 oralists at The Hague, why do we have a delegation of 35? We should have spent the money assisting displaced fisherfolk,” Roque tweeted on Tuesday.

He was referring to several fishermen displaced from the Panatag Shoal by Chinese vessels.

Responding to the statement, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said “KSP!” in a message to reporters.

Lacierda said that any statement from Roque should be deemed with “political undertones” because he is running for Senator under UNA.

“I think Mr. Roque is trying to be specious in his statements,” he said.

“I’m a lawyer. I can answer him (Roque) straight why we need international counsel, and he knows the answer to that also. So stop asking questions that you know the answer to,” he added.