Palace reiterates call for Roque to return to PH

Malacañang reiterated Monday its call for former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to return to the Philippines.

''Go home,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a briefing when asked for his message to Roque after the latter called President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. as ''bangag.''

She reiterated that Roque is ''fake news peddler.''

In a video, Roque had also urged Senator Imee Marcos, the President's sister, to disclose if her brother is indeed using illegal drugs.

In response, Roque slammed Castro, saying that the latter continues to act as a vlogger. 

“Don’t look at me just to have content. We can debate policies and our people can demand answers to an Administration which sadly became tone-deaf with the sufferings of its citizens,” Roque said. 

“Self-rated poverty is highest in 21 years. Hunger is highest since the COVID-19 lockdown. Foreign investments dropped 39% in 2024.  These are not only real numbers but real lives being affected,” he added. 

He then said it is not surprising that “the Administration is sinking with PBBM having a net approval rating of -28% and net trust rating of -29%.”

“Unfortunately, the Palace Press Officer would rather call a former Presidential Spokesperson a fake news peddler instead of articulating real solutions to the myriad of problems facing our country,” Roque said. 

Roque even gave an unsolicited advice to Castro: Let us not go low. Let us not embarrass the Office of the President. Let us not make it worse for the Philippines.

Castro earlier said that there was "nothing new" about allegations that it was Roque who was behind the so-called “polvoron video.” The said video was meant to make it appear that Marcos was using illegal drugs.

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

The National Bureau of Investigation already filed inciting to sedition complaints against Roque and vlogger Claire “Maharlika” Contreras in connection with the so-called “polvoron” video.

Asked if the administration is already coordinating with the Interpol, Castro said there is no warrant of arrest yet against Roque.

To recall, Castro urged Roque to come home after he resurfaced in The Hague in The Netherlands after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ/RF, GMA Integrated News