Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro on Thursday said there is “nothing new” in the latest allegations linking former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to the controversial “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.
The video in question falsely depicted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as using illegal drugs.
The Palace reiterated that the President is allowing law enforcement agencies to conduct a full investigation into the matter.
During a House Tri-Committee hearing on the proliferation of fake news online, vlogger Vicente Bencalo “Pebbles” Cunanan claimed Roque was involved in circulating the video.
“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 testified.
However, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had earlier concluded—based on a forensic analysis released on July 23, 2024—that the man shown in the video was not President Marcos.
Roque has strongly denied Cunanan’s allegations.
“Either nagsisinungaling siya (Cunanan) o wala talaga siyang alam,” Roque said.
He also speculated that Cunanan may have made the statement in exchange for a personal favor.
“Nalungkot ako, siguro talagang matindi ang pangangailangan dahil ang inaasahan lang niya ay online selling,” Roque said, expressing sympathy.
“Realidad ‘yan ng buhay na kailangan mabuhay. Naaawa rin ako sa kanya,” he added.
