Atty. Harry Roque at the Department of Justice in Manila on September 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA (UPDATED) – A vlogger has identified former Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque as the one allegedly behind the release of the so-called 'polvoron' video, which purportedly showed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. doing drugs.  

Pebbles Cunanan made the revelation during the fourth hearing of the House Tri Committee investigating fake news on Tuesday.

"Ako ay naniniwalang si Atty. Roque ang orihinal na pinagmulan ng polvoron video at na siya ang nagpakalat nito sa publiko upang sirain ang kredibilidad ng Pangulo," Cunanan said in her sworn affidavit submitted to the panel.

"Ang labis ko ding natandaan nong gabing iyon ay nang sabihin ni Atty. Roque na "Magaling ako magpabagsak ng gobyerno." Base sa pagkakaintindi ko, at dahil iyon ang isa sa mga pinagusapan ng gabing iyon, ang pagpapakalat ng video na kung saan gumagamit di umano ng cocaine si PBBM ay parte ng sinasabi ni Atty. Roque na pagpapabagsak ng gobyerno," she added.

During the hearing, Cunanan reiterated Roque as the one behind the video's release.

"Si Atty. Harry Roque ang nasa likod ng video na yan... Ang sabi po sa akin sakyan mo na lang," she said during the hearing.

Cunanan confirmed the video in question during the hearing. 

"Yung raw version po kasi, kapag tiningnan niyo, hindi niyo masasabi na kahit na hindi po siya talaga eh, hindi niyo rin masasabi na hindi si PBBM. So in-enhance nila yung video para mas maging maliwanag," she said.

In a photo shown during the hearing, Cunanan identified some of the attendees of the private dinner on April 7, 2024 in Hong Kong as Roque, former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, former Press Secretary Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, pro-Duterte personalities like Lorraine Badoy, and Sass Rogando Sassot.

"Noong gabing ito, sinabi ni Atty. Roque na siya ay nakatanggap mula sa kamag-anak ng isang politiko ng isang screenshot ng video kung saan makikita si PBBM na gumagamit ng cocaine," Cunanan said in her affidavit.

Despite not being shown the screenshot, she said there were talks that the screenshot must be released by foreign influencers or vloggers to make it more believable.

"Sa panahon na yun gusto nila pabagsakin ang presidente," Cunanan said. 

Cunanan said she received a copy of the video on July 22,2024 the day of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Marcos Jr. This was also the same day the video was shown to the public.

"Miski yung raw video, hindi po ako naniniwala na siya yun... Hindi po si PBBM yun, hindi po yun yung presidente," she said. 

"Hindi naman po yan yung mukha ni PBBM. Noon ko pa po siya kilala. Kung yung edad niya at that time, kung titingnan yung video, kung 30 plus or 40, parang wala pa pong cellphone nun," Cunanan explained when asked her basis.

The vlogger believes the video was edited and released on the day of the SONA to create criticism and controversy against Marcos Jr.  

"Halatang ginawa po siya, Mister Chair. Pinalabas nila yung raw video na malabo para masabi na kamukha ni PBBM. Tapos in-enhance nila saka in-AI [artificial intelligence]," Cunanan said. 

"Alam ko naman po hindi lang si Atty. Harry Roque ang nasa likod ng video na yan... Hindi ko na po masasabi, hindi ko na po alam," she added.

Cunanan was then asked why she thinks Roque and other pro-Duterte vloggers planned to release the 'polvoron' video.

"Para pabagsakin po si PBBM. [How did you come to that conclusion na pabagsakin ang Presidente?] Kasi galit na po sila eh," she said.  

Acop asked if the release of the video was planned and an attempt to discredit the President, and Cunanan responded in the affirmative.

"Bakit ka nagsasalita ngayon at bakit ka pumirma ng affidavit?" he asked. 

"Para itama po ang mali," Cunanan immediately responded.  

The Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) earlier dismissed it as a "poorly designed" fake video.

House Deputy Speaker David "Jay Jay" Suarez underscored the importance of the Tri Comm hearings.

"This is precisely the reason why we conduct these hearings like this. Ito halatang halata peke. But of course, upang mag-instigate ng disgust, mag-instigate ng galit at ipahiya ang isang nakapwesto, and for this case our President, some people would go to the extent of using AI to edit videos and come out with fake news," he said. 

"This is the reason why we really need to come up with clear legislation and policies para hindi na po maulit ang ganitong pamemeke ng video para manira ng tao," Suarez added. 

ROQUE DOUBTS CUNANAN'S CREDIBILITY

In a lengthy Facebook live video, Roque cast doubt on Cunanan's credibility, adding that it was merely her belief that he was behind the said video.

"Fake news 'yan kasi basahin niyo kung ano nakasaad sa affidavit ni Talakera," Roque said. "Ang sabi niya, I quote, 'Kung kaya naman, base sa aking mga nabanggit, ako ay naniniwalang si Atty. Roque ang orihinal na pinagmulan ng polvoron video.'" He stressed, "Opinyon lang niya. So, parang wala rin siyang kaso 'pagdating doon," he said.

In a separate statement, Roque also claimed Cunanan's affidavit and testimony during the TriComm hearing are "fraught with falsehoods and hearsays".

According to Roque, the video was first shown to Filipinos in Los Angeles, and not in Vancouver as claimed by Cunanan.

He also said he does not have the ability to bring the government down.

"Pangalawa, hindi rin totoo ang sinabi ni Ms. Pebbles na kaya kong magpabagsak ng gobyerno. Nasa kamay ng mamamayang Pilipino ang kapalaran ni PBBM, hindi sa isang Harry Roque," he said.

Without denying or admitting anything, Roque said Cunanan's affidavit meant nothing because her claims are merely her opinion and are not facts.

"Pangatlo, opinyon at paniniwala ni Ms. Pebbles na ako ang orihinal na pinagmulan ng polvoron video at ako ang nagpakalat nito. Iba ang opinyon sa katotohanan. Walang saysay ang affidavit. The affidavit does not mean anything," he explained.

Roque also questioned why the TriComm treated Cunanan as an "expert" when she has a questionable background.

"After all is said and done, the members of the TriComm heavily relied on the words of a blogger to authenticate the polvoron video. Akala ko ba fake news peddlers ang vloggers?  Kailan pa naging forensic expert si Ms. Pebbles?  At sa isang blogger pa na kilala ng lahat na kain-suka -- dating Marcos loyalist, isinuka at tinawag na adiktador si Marcos Jr, pumunta sa Duterte camp, at ngayon nagbalik-loob sa mga Marcos," Roque said.

"Everything is just a show. The TriComm has a ready script, complete with a powerpoint presentation, featuring the photo of the photo in the dinner, video and screenshots," he added.

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