MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque can take the heat, but calling him what he is not is a different ball game.

In a tweet, activist performance artist Juana Change accused Roque of being a Chinese citizen.  She was commenting on a press conference involving Filipino fishermen whose catch were taken by the Chinese Coastguard off the coast of the Philippines.

Today, Roque said he was filing a libel case against Change. “I can call her ugly. She can call me fat.  But to question my Filipino citizenship is a serious allegation that is without basis,” he said.

CAMP CRAME, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau) – It’s a case of a fish caught by its own mouth.

In a single tweet from her jail cell, Senator Leila De Lima says she is now the “old role model” of government corruption in the Philippines, hailing incumbent Solicitor General Jose Calida as the new role model.

Well, at some point, De Lima, who turns 59 this August, will have to pass on the baton to someone else.  The time is now.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Malacañang is finally breaking its silence over the government’s furlough denial for incrcerated Senator Leila De Lima to attend her child’s graduation.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told The Adobo Chronicles that contrary to claims, De Lima is not being persecuted.  “She is not in solitary confinement at Camp Crame.  In fact she is free to roam,” Roque said.

When asked to elaborate, Roque said, “the Senator is free to roam the Internet.  She has full access to her Facebook and Twitter accounts.”

It wasn’t clear who is paying for the roaming charges incurred by De Lima from her jail cell.