NANINIWALA si House Assistant Majority Leader at Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong na makakasira sa asylum application ni dating presidential spokesperson Harry Roque ang pagkakadawit nito sa “polvoron video,” ang gawa-gawang video para palabasin na gumagamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Taliwas ito sa paniwala ni Roque na ang pagdawit sa kanya sa polvoron video sa pagdinig ng House Tri-Comm ay makakatulong upang patunayanang political persecution sa kanya.

“Kung proving truth talagang siya mismo, that revelation in itself … it could really condemn, for example legally ha, 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,” ani Adiong.

Ang kontrobersya ay nagmula sa sinumpaang salaysay ng social media personality na si Vicente Bencalo “Pebbles” Cunanan, na nagsabing si Roque ang orihinal na pinagmulan ng tinatawag na “polvoron video” – isang dinoktor na video na umano’y nagpapakita kay Pangulong Marcos Jr. na gumagamit ng ilegal na droga.

“Well, I don’t think, well, that’s his defense. But I don’t think the messaging, I mean the information that the revelation of Ms. Pebbles would add on to his defense no or his application for an asylum,” ani Adiong.

“Kasi unang-una, yung pagbibigay mo mismo sa kanya ng invitation is an indication that he’s given that due process. 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,” sabi pa niya.

Sa kanyang sinumpaang salaysay, sinabi ni Cunanan na tinalakay ni Roque ang mga plano para ilabas ang video sa isang pribadong hapunan sa Hong Kong noong Hulyo 2024 kasama ang iba pang kilalang indibidwal na maka-Duterte.

Ayon kay Cunanan, sinabi umano ni Roque, “Magaling ako magpabagsak ng gobyerno,” na para sa kaniya ay bahagi ng mas malawak na pagsisikap na pabagsakin ang kasalukuyang administrasyon.

Sinabi ni Adiong na bilang abogado at opisyal ng korte, alam ni Roque na ang pananagutan ay hindi opsyonal.

“Sabi ko nga, he’s a lawyer, he knows better. Rather than continue on being or pretending to be a vlogger, he’s very well aware of his rights and he should face these charges before him.”

Punto niya na ang paghiling ni Roque ng asylum ay mas konektado sa legal na mga isyung kaniya nang kinakarahap.

“The application for asylum rests very well, well much linked and connected with the charges filed against him on qualified human trafficking and also the contempt orders that was cited against him by the Quad Comm.”

“By continuously refusing and frustrating the committee by withholding those documents that we requested him to provide and heeded and assured the committee that he would provide eventually but up to now hindi pa po niya nilalabas at binibigay sa ating komite,” sabi ni Adiong

Inakusahan din ni Roque ang Tri-Comm na naghanda ng isang scripted na hearing.

Pinabulaanan naman it ni Aduiong dahil aniya inaasahan naman na angmga mambabatas at resource person ay may paghahanda talaga para sa mga seryosong diskusyon.

“You cannot blame for example the resource persons or those members of the committee who are prepared to ask their questions kasi we are expected to be prepared every time we come out and then we join the deliberation.”

“We are discussing here of a very serious matter that not only threatens this country but it’s a global problem no,” saad ni Adiong na tinutukoy ang disinformation.

“At tsaka yung purpose of the Tri-Comm really is kailangan ho natin mabigyang solusyon itong paglaganap at pagsugpo itong maling impormasyon,” aniya.

Pabor naman si Adiong na matanong kung dapat bang ipatawag si Roque sa Tri-Comm kasunod ng testimony ani Cunanan na nag-uugnay sa kaniya sa paglalabas ng video.

“I think so. I think we need to provide them the due process to explain himself,” sabi ni Adiong.

“Kasi the allegation according to Ms. Pebbles Cunanan, if proven true, creating and spreading these deepfake videos, manufactured videos, distorted videos… to demean a sitting official… borders the issue of national security,” wika ni Adiong. “The office of the President is not only the head of the government but he is also at the same time the commander-in-chief.”

Sabi pa ni Adiong na kailangan ng malinaw na maipaliwanag sa publiko ang mga pahayag ni Roque batay sa salaysay ni Cunanan.

“‘Yung remarks niya according to Ms. Pebbles that he is good at toppling government, I think he should be also… I presume that he would also be good at explaining himself before the public,”
Ani Adiong.

“He is a lawyer, he is an officer of the court. And all lawyers are obligated and expected to inform the public based on facts and truth,” saad pa niya

Tinukoy pa ni Adiong na bago pa mang ang “polvoron video,” ay may mga sensyales na ng pinaghandaang hakbang para magpabagsak ang kampo ni Roque.

“I think the group that is associated with, Atty. Roque associated with, has been laying down the premise na kino-connect nila itong si Presidente daw ay gumagamit ng illegal na droga,” sabi niya.

“So I think that they were already that effort in laying down the premise so they can steer public outrage,” dagdag pa niya.

“This group is so desperate that they have to come out with a doctored video which to me it’s not only incendiary in nature but it is a cheap antic to the lowest level,” paglalahad ni Adiong.

“At hindi lang ito fake news but this is a dangerous lie,” sabi ni Adiond. “Imagine you are creating and hoping to generate unrest in our streets, generating a public outcry.”

Iniugnay ni Adiong ang mas malawak na naratibo sa mga pag-atake ng mga kilalang kaalyado ni Roque.

“In fact there was already a call by former President Duterte to withdraw the support of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines),” aniya.

“So I would say, there was really indeed… effort to lay down the predicate and lay down the premise that indeed the fake video, doctored video was authentic para ipapakita sa tao na gumagamit nga itong Presidente natin ng illegal na droga,” sabi ni Adiong.

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