Tovic Salvador

Palace on Roque's hair follicle test challenge: The burden of proof is on the accuser

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BOrHvx_MUVw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>MANILA — Former Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque and others calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take a hair follicle drug test should instead provide supposed proof of their allegations, Malacañang said Thursday.</p><p>Roque, whom a vlogger told a House hearing was behind the spread of the so-called &quot;polvoron&quot; video that purportedly showed the President doing drugs, has denied the claim and again challenged Marcos Jr. to take the test.</p><p>“Okay, tanong po natin, ano po ba ang basehan para sa paghingi at i-demand sa Pangulo ang isang hair follicle test? Ito po ba ay may pagbibintang na siya ay diumanong gumagamit ng illegal na droga? Kung may pagbibintang — liliwanagin po natin — kung may pagbibintang sa Pangulo, iyong nagbibintang ang dapat na magpatunay kung may ginagamit man o wala,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.</p><p>(Okay, let me ask, what is the basis to demand that the President take a hair follicle test? Is this an allegation that he uses illegal drugs? If there is an accusation, the accuser should be the one to prove if he uses or not)</p><p>She said Marcos Jr.&#x27;s accusers cannot make an allegation and then demand proof that it isn&#x27;t true.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po iyon ang tamang logic (That is not logical).&quot;</p><div><strong>SUPPOSED ROQUE INVOLVEMENT &#x27;NO SURPRISE&#x27;</strong></div><p>Castro said Marcos Jr was not surprised by a recent revelation by vlogger Pebbles Cunanan that Roque was behind the release of the video video, which has long been dismissed as fake.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/officials-dismiss-fake-malicious-video-showing-marcos-allegedly-doing-drugs-1418">Officials dismiss ‘fake, malicious’ video showing Marcos allegedly doing drugs </a></div><p>“Hindi na ito bago at buti na lamang may isang tao na dati nilang kaalyado na sinabi na si Atty. Harry Roque ang nagpakalat,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Malacañang briefing. </p><p>(That is not new to us and it is good that someone who used to be on their side has said it was Atty. Harry Roque who spread the video)</p><p>Castro said it was Roque who first revealed the video in a rally of the Maisug group of Duterte supporters in Vancouver, Canada. </p><p>She said Roque, a former spokesman of former President Rodrigo Duterte, encouraged supporters to spread the video.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/9/tv-patrol-harry-roque-itinangging-siya-ang-nasa-likod-ng-polvoron-video-2100"><strong>TV PATROL: Harry Roque itinangging siya ang nasa likod ng &#x27;polvoron video&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>&quot;At sa mga previous statements din niya, sa mga interviews sinabi niya nga na ang naging daan dito para sa video na ito ay ang kasamahan niyang si Maharlika. Pinasalamatan niya ito na it was made possible by Maharlika, this video,&quot; Castro also said, referring to US-based content creator Claire Contreras.</p><p>(And in his previous statements and interviews, her said that his ally Maharlika paved the way for this video. He thanked her because this video was made possible by Maharlika)</p><p>Castro, however, said the President is letting law enforcement agencies investigate the matter.</p><p>“At kung mayroon dapat na managot, kung napakita talaga ang liability ng kahit sino diyan na involved ay dapat lamang po sigurong masampahan ng kaso kung ito po ay makikita naman po ng [Department of Justice] at ng [National Bureau of investigation,]” she said.</p><p>(And if someone has to be held liable, then the DOJ and NBI can file the cases if they see basis to)</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/live?/-aQd3QvrVOA&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Roque has dismissed Cunanan&#x27;s testimony during the House TriComm hearing saying that her claims are &quot;fraught with falsehoods and hearsays.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/8/vlogger-harry-roque-behind-polvoron-video-of-marcos-jr-1919"><strong>Vlogger: Harry Roque behind &#x27;polvoron&#x27; video of Marcos Jr. </strong></a></div>

<p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s accusers cannot make an allegation and then demand proof that it isn't true. "Hindi po iyon ang tamang logic." </p>

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s accusers cannot make an allegation and then demand proof that it isn't true. "Hindi po iyon ang tamang logic."