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Advocates Philippines
Roque Hits Back At Claims In House Hearing
Harry Roque FILE
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has pushed back strongly against allegations raised during a recent House of Representatives proceeding, calling them falsehoods and questioning the credibility of the source.
In a press statement released on April 14, Roque said it was deeply disturbing that the House of Representatives of the Philippines allowed Ramil Madriaga to testify, accusing him of spreading baseless claims against him and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Madriaga had claimed that the kidnapping case filed against him was driven by personal motives, alleging Roque targeted him due to supposed involvement in helping farmers in a land dispute. Roque, however, firmly denied this.
“This claim is entirely baseless,” he said, emphasizing that during the preliminary investigation, Madriaga never raised any accusations of personal vendetta.
Roque pointed instead to evidence gathered by authorities, including sworn statements from victims and findings from the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group. According to him, investigators were able to trace one of Madriaga’s relatives involved in the ransom payment, linking the suspect to the case.
He also underscored the severity of the crime, noting that the incident led to the death of a police officer during a rescue operation, along with two alleged kidnappers.
“For Mr. Madriaga to now trivialize these events with fabricated narratives is both alarming and unacceptable,” Roque said.
Addressing separate allegations of land grabbing, Roque maintained that no such case has been filed against him in any court. He acknowledged an ongoing probe by the National Bureau of Investigation over alleged falsification of public documents but pointed out that this issue surfaced only recently.
Roque also clarified that he had no prior relationship with Madriaga before encountering him as an accused in a kidnapping case.
“There was—and is—no basis for any personal animosity,” he said, stressing that the charges were based on victim identification and law enforcement evidence.
Invoking the legal principle falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus—false in one thing, false in everything—Roque questioned the credibility of Madriaga’s claims, calling for skepticism from the public.
He further noted that Madriaga’s alleged links to Vice President Sara Duterte were never mentioned during earlier proceedings and only surfaced years later.
“The public deserves truth, not revisionist narratives designed to mislead and deflect accountability,” Roque said.
In a press statement released on April 14, Roque said it was deeply disturbing that the House of Representatives of the Philippines allowed Ramil Madriaga to testify, accusing him of spreading baseless claims against him and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Madriaga had claimed that the kidnapping case filed against him was driven by personal motives, alleging Roque targeted him due to supposed involvement in helping farmers in a land dispute. Roque, however, firmly denied this.
“This claim is entirely baseless,” he said, emphasizing that during the preliminary investigation, Madriaga never raised any accusations of personal vendetta.
Roque pointed instead to evidence gathered by authorities, including sworn statements from victims and findings from the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group. According to him, investigators were able to trace one of Madriaga’s relatives involved in the ransom payment, linking the suspect to the case.
He also underscored the severity of the crime, noting that the incident led to the death of a police officer during a rescue operation, along with two alleged kidnappers.
“For Mr. Madriaga to now trivialize these events with fabricated narratives is both alarming and unacceptable,” Roque said.
Addressing separate allegations of land grabbing, Roque maintained that no such case has been filed against him in any court. He acknowledged an ongoing probe by the National Bureau of Investigation over alleged falsification of public documents but pointed out that this issue surfaced only recently.
Roque also clarified that he had no prior relationship with Madriaga before encountering him as an accused in a kidnapping case.
“There was—and is—no basis for any personal animosity,” he said, stressing that the charges were based on victim identification and law enforcement evidence.
Invoking the legal principle falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus—false in one thing, false in everything—Roque questioned the credibility of Madriaga’s claims, calling for skepticism from the public.
He further noted that Madriaga’s alleged links to Vice President Sara Duterte were never mentioned during earlier proceedings and only surfaced years later.
“The public deserves truth, not revisionist narratives designed to mislead and deflect accountability,” Roque said.
Apr 14, 2026
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