PCO exec hits back at Harry Roque’s ‘messenger, salesman’ remarks
Claire Castro —PHOTO FROM PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday clapped back at former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s remark that the newly appointed PCO heads are like “salesman” who need to sell the President.
At a Palace briefing, Castro was asked to comment on Roque’s statement on a Facebook video, wishing her and newly installed Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz good luck in their new positions.
“Aminado ako na mahirap maging messenger ng administrasyon kasi para kang salesman. Kinakailangan ibenta mo ‘yung presidente mo. Pero alam lahat ng salesman kahit gaano ka kagaling na salesman kung hindi maganda ang produkto, mahihirapan kang ibenta,” Roque said in a clip on Facebook posted last Friday.
(I admit that it is difficult to be a messenger of the administration because you are like a salesman. You must sell your president. But every salesman knows that no matter how good a salesman you are, if the product is not good, you will have a hard time selling.)
Article continues after this advertisement“So all I can say is good luck sa mga bagong PCO officials na si Jay Ruiz at si Claire Castro,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisement(So all I can say is good luck to the new PCO officials Jay Ruiz and Claire Castro.)
During Monday’s briefing, Castro pointed out that she and Ruiz are messengers and not salesmen.
She also rebutted Roque’s statement, saying it is indeed difficult to sell a product, especially if it is bad.
“Naniniwala po talaga kami na mahirap ibenta ang bulok o masamang produkto. Mahirap po talagang ibenta kapag ang ibinibenta mo ay kailangan mo pang linisin ang mga sinasabi. Mahirap ibenta ang mga tao na ang laging nababanggit ay joke lamang iyan,” she said without naming names.
“Naniniwala po talaga kami na mahirap ibenta ang bulok o masamang produkto. Mahirap po talagang ibenta kapag ang ibinibenta mo ay kailangan mo pang linisin ang mga sinasabi. Mahirap ibenta ang mga tao na ang laging nababanggit ay joke lamang iyan,” she said, rebutting Roque’s statement.
(We really believe that it is difficult to sell rotten or bad products. It’s really hard to sell when what you’re selling requires you to clean up what you’re saying. It’s hard to sell people who always say it’s just a joke.)
She further added, “Hindi po kami salesman dito. Kami po ay messenger. Ang salesman po kasi ay kailangan na maganda ang bokadura mo; kailangan na ibenta kahit na minsan ay hindi totoo iyong mga sinasabi mo para lang mabenta ang isang tao o isang produkto.”
“Okay, sa amin po, messenger kami; hindi po kami nagbibenta ng pangulo o ng gobyerno. Pinapakita lamang po namin at inilalahad namin kung ano ang maaaring makuha ng taumbayan sa ating gobyerno, kung anong puwedeng itulong ng ating gobyerno sa taumbayan. So, hindi po kami salesman; kami po ay messenger,” she also said.
(Okay, for us, we are messengers; we are not selling the president or the government. We are only showing and presenting what the people can get from our government, what our government can help the people. So, we are not salesmen; we are messengers.)
Roque served as spokesperson for former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is also known for his friction with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
