Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (PPAB)

Vlogger Vicente "Pebbles" Cunanan has accused former presidential spokesman Harry Roque of leading a plan to "bring down" President Marcos' administration with the use of the so-called "polvoron video".

Cunanan in effect claimed that Roque, who had been hiding from Philippine authorities for months now, as the source of the viral video, which allegedly showed President Marcos using cocaine--a powdery substance.

Local authorities later proved the video to be fake.

The House tri-committee (tri-comm) held its third public hearing Tuesday, April 8, on the spread of fake news wherein Cunanan attended as one of the invited vlogger-resource persons. 

Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop interpellated Cunanan on the matter of a three-page affidavit that the latter had voluntarily executed.

“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 (I believe that Atty. Roque was the original source of the polvoron video and that he was behind the spreading of the video in a bid to destroy the credibility of the President)," read a copy of Cunanan's affidavit that was acquired by the Manila Bulletin. 

“Ang labis ko ding natandaan noong gabing iyon ay nang sabihin ni Atty. Roque na ‘Magaling ako magpabagsak ng gobyerno (What I remember most from that night was when Atty. Roque claimed 'I'm good at bringing down governments'),'" Cunanan said.

The particular vlogger, who identifies as a female, was referring to a "private dinner" in Hong Kong on July 7, 2024 that she was invited to. 

In attendance were Roque, Vic Rodriguez, Glen Chong, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Lorraine Badoy, Sass Rogando Sassot, Joie de Vivre, and Tio Moreno, among other pro-Duterte vloggers and personalities. 

“Base sa pagkaintindi ko, at dahil iyon ang isa sa mga pinag-usapan ng gabing iyon, ang pagpapakalat ng video na kung saan gumagamit diumano ng cocaine si PBBM ay parte ng sinasabi ni Atty. Roque na pagpapabagsak ng gobyerno,” Cunanan said. 

(Based on what I understood, and because it was one of the topics that night, spreading the video wherein PBBM was allegedly using cocaine was part of what Atty. Roque said about tearing the government down.)

'Nagtatago po siya ngayon eh'

When Acop asked if she believed Roque's claim that he can truly take out governments, Cunanan answered with a quip that made even the usually serious solon burst into laughter.

"Sa tingin mo kaya niya po ba talaga? (Do you think he's really capable of that?)" Acop asked, to which Cunanan said: "Hindi po kasi nagtatago po siya ngayon eh (No because he is in hiding right now)."

READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/18/castro-tells-roque-to-go-back-to-the-philippines

"Tama (Correct)," said the lawmaker, a former police brigadier general.

The polvoron video was made public for the first time by Roque himself, Cunanan said, during a Maisug Rally held in Vancouver, Canada on July 20 – just one day before Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Cunanan also told Acop that the reason behind her execution of such affidavit was, "Para itama ang mali (To set a wrong thing right)."

The Antipolo congressman ended his interpellation by manifesting that the video had undergone verification and deepfake analysis from the PNP, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and independent fact-checking organizations, "and all confirmed na hindi si PBBM yung nasa video (it wasn't PBBM who was in the video)".

It was back in September 2024 when another joint House panel, the quad-committee (quad-comm) issued an arrest order against Roque for no-showing hearings and in effect withholding key information about illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).