Man in `polvoron video’ not Marcos – PNP, NBI

BY VICTOR REYES AND ASHZEL HACHERO

THE PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) yesterday said the man shown in the “polvoron video” was not President Marcos Jr as authorities vowed to file charges against the people behind the malicious video.

A group linked to former President Duterte played the video during a protest rally in Los Angeles last Monday, hours before President Marcos Jr’ State of the Nation Address.

The man on the video was shown sniffing white powdery substance from a plastic sachet.

In a joint press conference with the NBI, ACG director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Francis Cariaga they used “multiple algorithms” in the conduct of the probe.

“The algorithms show he (man on the video) is not the President… There is significant discrepancy in the facial features of the President (and the man on the video),” he said.

Cariaga said the size of the ears and the shape of the eyes of the President and the man in the video are different.

Cariaga also said they have identified some people who spread the video but did not name names. He said these people will be the “focus ow of our investigation.”

Authorities have said the video was fake. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr on Monday said the video was part of efforts to destabilize the Marcos administration.

Yesterday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr said: “As far as far these two (President and the man on the video) are concerned, they have own unique characteristics of the ear.”

“Definitely, he (man on the video) is not the President…As far as the PNP is concerned, he is not the President,” he said.

Abalos said they are coordinating with the NBI for the filing charges behind the video.

“We are discussing the next steps that should be taken. But one thing is certain, people should be held accountable for this,” said Abalos.

NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc forensic analysis conducted by the NBI and the PNP showed significant discrepancies in the features of the man in the video and Marcos, particularly the ears, eyes, nose and the sideburns.

He explained the process by which their forensic experts came up with the finding, adding that photos taken from the video were analyzed through a video spectral