FORMER presidential spokesman Harry Roque’s alleged involvement in the release and spread of a deepfake video last year showing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly taking illegal drugs may jeopardize his application for political asylum in The Netherlands, an administration lawmaker said yesterday.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Roque’s alleged orchestration of the release of the edited video shows his role in trying to bring down the Marcos administration.
“Kung proven true talagang siya mismo (If this is proven true), that revelation in itself (that Roque allegedly masterminded the release of the video) could really condemn, for example, legally, in the case of the petition or the asylum that he is applying for in the Netherlands. Kasi parte siya doon sa pag-destabilize ng isang gobyerno (Because he’s part of the destabilization of a government),” Adiong said in a press conference.
“I’m sure sa (in) the Netherlands they would know how a legitimate case will differ from political persecution. Alam po nila ‘yung legal (they know what’s legal), valid charges from political persecution,” he added.
Vlogger Vicente Bencalo “Pebbles” Cunanan earlier told the House tri committee which is investigating the spread of fake news and disinformation, that the release of the doctored video was the brainchild of Roque who is seeking political asylum in the Netherlands after he was linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Cunanan has said Roque orchestrated the spread of the video allegedly as part of the campaign to topple the Marcos administration following the president’s falling out with Vice President Sara Duterte.
The joint panel’s resource person even quoted Roque as saying: “Magaling ako magpabagsak ng gobyerno (I’m good at bringing down governments).”
Cunanan claimed Roque made the statement during a private dinner on July 7, 2024, in Hong Kong, held shortly after a pro-Duterte event called the Maisug Rally.
Roque has denied the allegation, saying that Cunanan, himself, admitted in his testimony that what he said was only based on his own “belief” and not on facts.
Adiong said Cunanan’s revelation would definitely not help in Roque’s defense and his application for a political asylum.
He also laughed off Roque’s claim that he is being ganged up by Palace allies in the House of Representatives.
“Kasi unang-una, ‘yung pagbibigay mo mismo sa kanya ng invitation (First of all, giving him an invitation to attend the hearing) is an indication that he’s given that due process,” he said. “So it is not for me a signal that this administration is really ganging up on him as what he is trying to portray online. In fact, the very purpose of that invitation is to provide him that due process that should be accorded and afforded to him as a citizen of this country,” Adiong said,
Adiong said Roque should be made to participate in the hearings to answer Cunanan’s allegations.
He also dismissed Roque’s claim that the hearing was a “scripted” one, saying he “cannot blame for example the resource persons or those members of the committee who are prepared to ask their questions because we are expected to be prepared every time we come out and then we join the deliberation.”
“We are discussing here a very serious matter that not only threatens this country but it’s a global problem,” he said, referring to fake news peddling and disinformation.
Roque went into hiding after he was cited in contempt and ordered arrested by the House quad committee after he failed to produce documents that he promised to present to lawmakers who are investigating his links to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The joint committee has ordered Roque to submit his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2016 to 2022, copies of the documents related to the transfer of Biancham’s shareholdings, and his 2018 income tax return, which was filed in 2019.
The former Duterte spokesman’s name was linked to POGOs after a house in Tuba, Benguet, reportedly owned by him, was raided, resulting in the arrest of two Chinese linked to an illegal POGO operation in Bamban, Tarlac.
A practicing lawyer, Roque has admitted having an “interest” in the corporation that owns the Benguet property.
