The word war between Senator Leila de Lima and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque rages on as Roque advised the detained former justice secretary on Thursday to quit her verbal attacks against him.
鈥淢y advice to Leila de Lima, if you do not want to hear anything from me, stop saying things about me. Because remember, I am free, and I can reply. You鈥檙e in jail,鈥� Roque said in an interview with ABS CBN 黑料社 Channel.
De Lima, a known critic of the Duterte administration, has been in detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since Feb. 24, 2017 for drug related charges.
Roque said he will only be making statements against De Lima in response to whatever she would say about him.
鈥淚 only respond when she says something about me. She can鈥檛 take it against me if I respond to anything that she says,鈥� Roque said.
鈥淚 leave her alone as a matter of policy because she鈥檚 in jail. But stop attacking me. Stop expecting I will not hit back when you do attack me,鈥� he added.
The word war between the Palace spokesperson and the detained senator began when Roque greeted De Lima a 鈥渉appy anniversary鈥� when she marked her first year in detention.
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READ: Malaca帽ang greets De Lima a 鈥榟appy anniversary鈥� in jail
De Lima then lashed back at Roque saying the Palace spokesman 鈥渉as sold his own identity in exchange for a possible Senate run.鈥�
In his retort, Roque wished that De Lima be 鈥渄etained for the rest of her life.鈥�
鈥淢ay you spend the rest of your life in jail. Goodbye,鈥� Roque said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday.
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READ: Roque wishes De Lima a lifetime in jail听听听听听
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