Marcos Jr. : Probing ‘polvoron’ video up to DOJ, NBI

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos is leaving it up to law enforcement agencies to probe the allegation that former presidential spokesman Harry Roque was behind the spread of a manipulated video that made it appear that Marcos was using cocaine.

During the House tri-committee hearing on disinformation last Tuesday, vlogger Pebbles Cunanan claimed that Roque was behind the release of what is now known as the “polvoron” video, which was named after a euphemism for the illegal substance cocaine.

In an affidavit submitted to the panel, Cunanan expressed belief that Roque was the original source of the video and that he disseminated it to destroy the President’s credibility. Roque, an ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, responded by questioning the character of Cunanan, who he said has transformed from being a tough critic of Marcos to a “bootlicker.”

“We have spoken to the President about that and he said would just let the law enforcement agencies, the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), the DOJ (Department of Justice), conduct an investigation on this,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing yesterday.

Experts from Deepfakes Analysis Unit, which is part of the India-based Misinformation Combat Alliance, have found traces of manipulation in the “polvoron” video, including the possible tampering with the face of the man who was shown sniffing cocaine.

Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong fired back at social media personality Sass Rogando Sasot, who dismissed the House of Representatives as “very corrupt” after being cited in contempt for ignoring summons from the tri-committee investigating fake news and digital disinformation.