Mar Roxas: Viral video of meeting with Romualdez was ‘doctored’

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Wednesday claimed that the video of his post-Yolanda meeting with local officials that has gone viral on social networking sites was "doctored" and posted in bad faith.

"Narito ako upang ilahad ang katotohanan ukol sa retokadong video na ikinakalat ng kampo ni Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez,” Roxas said in a press conference.

He was referring to an 18-second video where he is heard saying, “You have to understand, we are talking very straight here. You are a Romualdez and the President is an Aquino.”

Roxas claimed that the video was edited in such a way that important parts showing the context of his statement were deleted.

In particular, he said this comment was removed from the video: “…and we are being very careful in just taking over because we do not want anything to be misconstrued, misunderstood.”

Roxas told the news conference: “Kahit sinong makapanood ng video ay magsasabi na retokado at dinuktor ang video na ipinalabas na pag-uusapan. Sadyang pinutol at tinanggal ang mahahalagang bahagi ng pag-uusap—ang konteksto, ang kabuuan. Kung sino ang gumawa ng video na ito, alam ng tao na may masamang balakin at pag-iisip ang taong ito.”

On Monday, a teary-eyed Romualdez had said in post-disaster assessment at the Senate that Roxas supposedly asked him in a meeting to cede control of the city to the Department of Interior and Local Government. Roxas also allegedly brought up the issue of clan politics instead of immediately sending aid to the city, Romualdez said.

Romualdez is the nephew of Imelda Marcos, widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. President Benigno Aquino III's father, Ninoy Aquino, was assassinated on his return from exile in 1983 during the Marcos presidency.

The edited video of the meeting was posted online by a certain Josemari Gonzalez. It is unclear whether the person who posted the video is Romualdez's father-in-law -- former actor, politician, and audio expert Jose Mari Gonzalez.

Longer video

“Ayaw ko na sanang magsayang ng oras para sagutin ang isyung ito pero hindi dapat palagpasin ang mga kasinungalingan na pinakakalat sa ngayon,” Roxas said.

He said that a 41-minute video which was also posted on YouTube revealed the context of the whole conversation. Roxas also disclosed that there was a 51-minute audio recording, which served as the minutes of the meeting.

The longer video was posted online by columnist Cito Beltran.

Roxas said what was shown in the video was not his first meeting with the Tacloban Mayor.

According to Roxas, he was only asking for a letter from the local chief executive that would show what they need from the national government. “Pormalidad lang itong letter. Hindi ito susi o hudyat para magsimula, kumilos ang national government.”

He added that the national government conducted relief efforts even without the letter from the Tacloban City local government.

No political agenda

In an interview with GMA News' 24 Oras program Wednesday, Romualdez admitted that one of his staff took the video that went viral, but refused to disclose the videographer's identity for security reasons. "Pag high-level meetings, policy is to have video documentation," he said.

Romualdez claimed that he had no political agenda in broadcasting what went on in the meeting, saying he plans to retire after this term, which is his third and last as mayor.

"I hope he will not take it personally. It was not meant to destroy him," he added, referring to the reaction of Roxas.

"The video will tell who is telling the truth. Kaya ako sa Senado nagsalita dahil para maayos ang batas," said Romualdez.

He added that he would like to put the issue aside, as Tacloban is already in the rehabilitation stage. The city was one of the worst hit areas when super typhoon Yolanda tore across the central Visayas last Nov. 8.

"This is not to complain," he said. "The purpose of saying this was to let donors know that it didn't reach them if that was the intention. Baka mamaya, sila pa raw ang hanapan."

"They are thankful [for the] help from other countries and the international aid agencies na nandito para tulungan sila sa relief and rehabilitation efforts."

Lie detector test

Earlier, Roxas challenged the mayor to take a lie detector test to prove that he did not bring up clan politics with Romualdez in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda. However, Romualdez rejected the offer.

Roxas had described Romualdez's accusations as the possible result of "post-traumatic stress disorder" after the latter witnessed death and destruction on such a large scale.
 

Super typhoon Yolanda, the strongest recorded to have made landfall in history, has left close to 6,000 people dead and more than a thousand still missing. Damage to property was estimated at P35.547 billion, according to the latest government data.

“Malinaw na ang layunin ng malisyosong video na ito ay pagtakpan ang sariling kapabayaan ni Mayor Romualdez bilang kapabayaang opisyal at ibaling ang sisi sa national government,” the Interior Secretary claimed.

He said that until now, more than one month after the storm ravaged the Visayas Region, Romualdez has yet to convene the City disaster risk reduction and management council and the city peace and order council.

Nonetheless, Roxas said he remained open to resolving his differences with Romualdez.

“Nandito ang aking tanggapan at handa akong makipag-usap sa lahat,” he said. — VC/BM/YA, GMA News