THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed inciting to sedition complaints against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and vlogger Claire “Maharlika” Contreras in connection with the controversial “polvoron” video. The NBI concluded as early as July 2024, following forensic analysis, that the individual depicted in the video allegedly using drugs was not President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Contreras, also known as Maharlika, faces additional charges including unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances, cyber libel, and computer-related forgery.
The case gained renewed attention on April 9th when vlogger Vicente Bencalo “Pebbles” Cunanan linked Roque to the dissemination of the video. In response, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro stated that the allegation contained no new information.
Roque, in a Facebook post, welcomed the NBI complaint, viewing it as an opportunity for President Marcos to definitively refute allegations of cocaine use and addiction in a court of law. He referenced the testimony given during a House of Representatives TriComm hearing, suggesting further evidence supporting his stance. The specific details of this testimony were not fully provided in his statement.
