Former President Duterte Speaks on President Marcos’ ‘Polvoron’ Video

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has spoken regarding the alleged “polvoron” video of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., which was shown at Maisug gatherings in Vancouver, Canada, and Los Angeles, USA.

In a statement on Monday, July 22, Duterte insisted that the Hakbang ng Maisug national leadership had no involvement in the circulating video on various social media platforms.

“The Hakbang ng Maisug national leadership has nothing to do with the release of the video footage showing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the act of snorting cocaine in Maisug gatherings in Vancouver, Canada, and Los Angeles, USA,” Duterte stated.

“It was a decision made entirely by the Maisug volunteers in the said two places without the knowledge and imprimatur of the Maisug organizing committee. The members of the Maisug leadership are just as surprised as the rest of the country when they saw it for the first time.”

According to Duterte, the Marcos administration quickly challenged the authenticity of the video, calling it an “obviously fake video” and a “maliciously crude attempt to destabilize the administration.”

Duterte also mentioned that the simple statement from the government to deny the video is not a strong defense, suggesting that Marcos should undergo a “hair follicle drug test.”

“The Marcos administration’s feeble attempt to dismiss the video by simple denial actually reinforces the simmering suspicion of President Marcos drug addiction. As any lawyer knows, denial is the weakest form of defense. It has to do better than that,” Duterte emphasized.

“Even the ordinary man on the street knows that the best way to put the issue to rest is for President Marcos to undergo a hair follicle drug test. When undertaken by a credible drug testing center, a negative result would erase all doubts once and for all.”

Duterte added, “Instead of doing that, however, President Marcos responded either with feigned laughter, feeble denial, or complete silence. A drug user for a President is no laughing matter, and he should be the first one to know that.”

In his statement, Duterte also condemned the alleged siding of the Senate and Congress with Marcos amid this crisis.

“The shameless act of legislators from both Senate and Congress to stand with President Marcos at this time of moral and legal crisis will forever be remembered by our people. They had this chance to be on the right side of history but they just wasted this chance.”

“By this act of showing in public what had been long whispered in private, the men and women of Maisug have proven themselves worthy to be called Filipinos. They have exposed themselves to danger and harm but they are ready to make the sacrifices to rid this country of a head of state that is an embarrassment all over the world.”

Finally, Duterte stressed that the coming days will be very crucial for every Filipino and the nation. “It will require every citizen to decide whether to be part of those who seek the truth and those involved in the cover-up. It is a choice between standing up and demanding that this country enforce the law without fear or favor, or hiding in fear and self-preservation.”