President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not surprised to hear former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque may be behind the so-called “polvoron video,” a manipulated clip falsely portraying the President using cocaine.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro yesterday confirmed during a press briefing that the President is aware of Roque’s alleged involvement, which surfaced during a recent congressional hearing of the Tri-Committee.
“This is not new. It’s just now that a former ally has publicly confirmed it was Atty. Harry Roque who ordered its circulation,” Malacañang‘s spokesperson said.
“Even before, during their rally in Vancouver, Canada, Roque was already instructing others to spread the video, claiming with certainty that it was the President in the footage,” she added.
The video, which made rounds on social media, was earlier debunked by authorities and fact-checkers as digitally altered.
Castro cited findings from the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and an India-based misinformation watchdog confirming the use of face-swap technology to manipulate the clip.
“This was investigated, evaluated, and proven to be fake,” she said.
“The President only wants the public to know the truth — that the video is not real, and the accusations against him are baseless,” Castro added.
Asked whether Marcos would pursue legal action against Roque or others involved, Castro said the matter is now in the hands of relevant agencies.
“The President has made it clear — let the NBI and DOJ conduct their investigation,” she said.
“If anyone is found liable, then the necessary cases should be filed,” she added.”
However, Roque, who is currently a fugitive from Philippine authorities for his suspected involvement in human trafficking, denied in a live-streamed interview being connected to the doctored video clip.
Instead, he attacked the credibility of vlogger Vicente Cunanan, known online as Pebbles, who earlier this week told the House Tri-Committee hearing how Roque allegedly masterminded the dissemination of the inflammatory video.
“His [Cunanan] character is truly questionable — from being a fierce critic of Marcos to now being a bootlicker. Why? How much was it? What’s the reason? Tell us, why?” Roque said in Filipino.
“Sorry Pebbles, but I really share the view of Maharlika that we are not mad at you, but if ever, we pity you because we understand that we are not like you who rely only on online selling for a living, we have some savings because we happened to get by with our work,” he added.