Palace on Roque being linked to 'Polvoron' video: Nothing new

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Thursday said that there is "nothing new" about allegations that it was former presidential spokesman Harry Roque who was behind the so-called “polvoron video.”

“Hindi na po bago ito sa pananaw ng taumbayan kung sino ba talaga ang utak o nagpakalat ng fake polvoron video na ‘to,” Castro said. 

(This is nothing new in the public's view as to who is really the mastermind or who spread this fake "polvoron video.")

The said video was meant to make it appear that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.was using illegal drugs.

''Hindi na ito bago at buti na lamang may isang tao na dati nilang kaalyado na sinabi na si Atty. Harry Roque ang nagpakalat. Even before nakita natin ito sa kanilang rally sa Vancouver, Canada. Siya mismo, si Atty. Harry Roque ang nag-utos pa sa ibang mga kaalyado nila na ipakalat at sinabi pa nga niya sigurado siya na ang Pangulo daw ang nasa video,'' she added.

(This is nothing new, and it's good that a former colleague of Atty. Harry Roque exposed him. We've seen this in a rally in Vancouver, Canada. It's Atty. Harry Roque who directed their other allies to publicize the video, and he even mentioned that he was certain that it was the President.)

The Palace also said that Marcos is letting law enforcement agencies look into the matter.

''Nakausap po natin ang Pangulo at sinabi po niya na hayaan na lang po natin ang ating mga law enforcement agencies – ang NBI, ang DOJ na magsagawa ng pag-iimbestiga patungkol dito,'' Castro said.

(We've talked to the President, and he said, let's just allow the NBI and the DOJ to investigate this.) 

''At kung mayroon dapat na managot, kung napakita talaga ang liability ng kahit sino diyan na involve, ay dapat lamang po sigurong masampahan ng kaso kung ito po ay makikita naman po ng DOJ at ng NBI,'' she added.

(And if anyone needs to be held liable for this, if there's proof of one's liability, then appropriate charges must be filed.) 

GMA News Online has reached out to Roque for comment but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

Meanwhile, asked about the call for the President to acquire a hair follicle test, Castro said those who are claiming that the President was using illegal drugs should be the ones to prove their accusations.

''Kayo pong nagbibintang, kayong humihingi, na nagdi-demand sa Pangulo, kayo muna ang magpatunay na mayroon siyang ginagawang mali. Kapag wala po kayong napatunayan, wala po kayong karapatang humingi sa Pangulo ng anumang demand patungkol sa hair follicle test,'' she said.

(To those hurling accusations, demanding from the President, prove first that he is doing something wrong. If you can't prove anything, you have no right to ask the President regarding hair follicle test.)

Inquiry

Vlogger Vicente Bencalo "Pebbles" Cunanan on Wednesday linked Roque to the spread of a video during the hearing of the House TriComm's inquiry into the spread of fake news online.

"Ayon sa aking rekoleksyon, mayroon pa ngang naging usapan na isang foreign influencer or vlogger ang dapat mag post o panggalingan ng video para magmukhang mas kapani-paniwala at upang maiwasan ang anumang posibleng pananagutan mula sa gobyerno ng ating bansa,” Cunanan said.

(From what I remember, there was even a discussion that it should be a foreign influencer or vlogger who should post the video so that it would be more believable and evade any accountability from our government.)

The National Bureau of Investigation on July 23, 2024 said that forensic analysis showed that the man using drugs was not Marcos.

Roque, meanwhile, denied Cunanan's allegations.

“Either nagsisinungaling siya (Cunanan) o wala talaga siyang alam,” Roque said.

(She is either lying or she does not know anything.)

Roque also speculated that Cunanan might have made the testimony in exchange for a favor.

“Nalungkot ako, siguro talagang matindi ang pangangailangan dahil ang inaasahan lang niya ay online selling,” Roque said.

(I was told, maybe she is in dire straits because her source of living is only online selling.)

“Realidad ‘yan ng buhay na kailangan mabuhay. Naaawa rin ako sa kanya,” Roque added.

(That is the reality of life, we need to survive. I pity her.) —VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News