Plot to bring down Marcos government made in Hong Kong restaurant, whistle-blower claims
A whistle-blower has alleged that a video purporting to show
Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos Jnr using illegal drugs was fabricated and spread online as part of a coordinated plot initiated at a
Hong Kong restaurant, by allies of former president
Rodrigo Duterte – including his former spokesman.
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Vicente 'Pebbles' Cunanan, a political vlogger and
social media influencer known for her ties to pro-Duterte online communities, testified before a congressional panel on Tuesday, alleging that former presidential spokesman Harry Roque played a key role in a scheme to undermine Marcos Jnr.
Cunanan claimed that Roque boasted of his ability to 'bring down a government' during discussions about disseminating a doctored video intended to damage the president's credibility.
Roque, identified by Cunanan in an affidavit submitted to the 'Tri-Com' inquiry – a joint investigation by three congressional committees – denied the accusations to This Week in Asia on Wednesday.
Cunanan said the video – a manipulated clip supposedly showing Marcos Jnr sniffing cocaine – was first discussed during a July 2024 dinner in Hong Kong.
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The event at Yung Kee Restaurant in the city's Central district was attended by 16 supporters of Duterte, including Roque, former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, and ex-press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles. The gathering occurred after a 'Maisug' prayer rally – a movement loosely affiliated with pro-Duterte causes.
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