Former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque on Wednesday dismissed allegations from social media personality Vincent Cunanan, also known as “Pebbles,” and challenged President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to take a hair follicle drug test to finally settle long-running rumors of drug use.

“First of all, I feel sorry for Pebbles,” Roque said in Filipino during a DZRH interview. “We know that pro-Duterte bloggers are under intense pressure right now, and I understand why he suddenly flipped sides.”

Roque denied orchestrating the spread of the so-called “polvoron video” — a clip that shows the President allegedly snorting cocaine — saying he had only met Cunanan once during the Hakbang ng Maisug rally in Hong Kong. He stressed that they were seated at separate tables and questioned how Cunanan could have overheard any conversation.

“He said he arrived late and never mentioned that we were at different tables. He’s either lying or just doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Roque said.

The former Palace mouthpiece also disputed Cunanan’s claim that the video was first shown at the Maisug rally in Vancouver, where US-based vlogger Maharlika was supposedly present. “Maharlika wasn’t even in Vancouver,” he said, adding that there’s no livestream footage showing the video being played there.

According to Roque, Maharlika had claimed that someone close to President Marcos Jr. handed her the video out of frustration with the administration. “In fact, I don’t know anyone close enough to Marcos Jr. to hand over something as sensitive as that.”

Roque further asserted that if he was the one behind it, he would have done better to distribute the video. “If I were truly behind that video, I would’ve made a bigger deal out of it. I was here in the Philippines — I could have used it here.”

He also claimed that a contact of his has seen three more unreleased videos. “If I had the means, I’d track them down myself. But there is one confirmed video, and apparently three more.”

Roque then issued a challenge to the President: “The best way to settle this is a hair follicle test — not a urine test. That doesn’t lie. Unlike urine, traces of drugs stay longer in hair. What I don’t understand is why he doesn’t just take it. That would put all the rumors to rest.”

A pattern of suppression?

Roque said that the House of Representatives has long suspected him to be behind the video and is using that as a basis to go after him and allies of the Duterte family.

“The truth is, they won’t stop until they pulverize us — me and the Dutertes,” Roque said. “Look at what they did: Duterte’s in The Hague, Inday Sara’s impeached, her husband and brother are being linked to drug trafficking, and I’m being accused of human trafficking and inciting sedition. I’m the only non-Duterte in this takedown.”

He said the events in Congress on Tuesday made it clear that lawmakers were attempting to pin the controversy on him. “They think the video had a persuasive effect. That maybe, after years of whispers, the video confirmed suspicions about the President’s alleged drug use.”

As for Cunanan’s testimony, Roque insisted it lacked weight.

“To be fair, Pebbles didn’t lie — he made it clear it was all his opinion. When did he become an expert witness? He can’t authenticate anything. He has no personal knowledge.”

Roque said he initially considered filing charges for false testimony in Congress, which carries heavier penalties than perjury, but backed down after reading Cunanan’s statement. “It was all opinion. There’s nothing to prosecute.”

He also painted Cunanan as someone “clinging to survival,” describing him as a full-time vlogger and online seller with no other livelihood. “I feel for him,” Roque said. “He relies on certain personalities to meet his needs. Maharlika even helped him during his Hong Kong trip, complete with receipts.”

“He admits he accepts financial help from friends. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s also receiving help from administration allies,” Roque added. “If he accepts money from friends, it’s not far-fetched that he’d accept it from others.”

As of press time, neither Cunanan nor Malacañang has responded to Roque’s latest remarks.