Ronnie Liang says he's not an 'alaga' of Harry Roque after 2022 video resurfaces
The camp of singer-actor Ronnie Liang said he has no "personal dealings" with former presidential spokesman Harry Roque days after their video from 2022 has resurfaced.
In Roque's video with Liang, which appears to be part of his vlog The Spox Hour, he was being playful as they visited the Dinagat Island.
"Maya-maya, tignan natin kung mapapa-topless natin si Ronnie Liang," he said. "Ako, magta-topless ako. See you later!"
Liang is also a licensed private pilot and a Philippine Army reservist.
In a statement, Liang's lawyer Rafael Vicente Calinsan said he was on Dinagat Island to distribute relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Odette as part of his duties as a reservist.
"Ronnie only chanced upon Atty. Roque after the humanitarian aid mission, during the tour of the island," Calinisan said, adding that they were accompanied by a number of soldiers, policemen, and officials from the local government unit.
"The courteous and well-mannered person that he is, Ronnie gamely participated in the vlog of Atty. Roque," he added.
Calinisan pointed out that Liang is not an "alaga" of Roque amid several speculations based on the video.
"While Ronnie and I personally had a good laugh watching the videos, instead of these innuendos, our efforts are better spent investigating the ill-effects of POGOs in the country, or pushing for laws that advocate gender equality,” he said.
Liang, meanwhile, said he's a proud ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.
"My whole team and I want to take this opportunity to show our support to the call for equality and inclusivity for everyone,” he said.
Liang also commended Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Pride PH for the "Love Laban 2 Everyone Pride Festival" event last June 22 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
Amid the issue, Liang on Facebook shared his thoughts about public perception.
"When people hear good things about you, they stay silent. When they hear bad things about you, they spread it like wildfire. But when they hear nothing about you, they make things up," he said, without mentioning specifics.
"However, it’s important to remember that you cannot control what others say about you. Instead, focus on the best version of yourself and let your actions speak for themselves," he continued. "Over time, your character and integrity will shine through, and the people who matter most will recognize and appreciate you for who you are."
Roque became the talk of the town as documents bearing his signature were found in a POGO raid in Pampanga. Documents also showed that he hired Mister Supranational Philippines 2016 Alberto Rodulfo De La Serna as an executive assistant in 2021, with a Salary Grade of 20 (nearly P60,000).
Roque stated he's providing financial support to De La Serna's trip to Poland, Ukraine, and Italy from Oct. 9, 2023, to Oct. 18, 2023.
In an interview with News5, he said De La Serna came from a political family, with his grandfather serving as governor in Bohol and maternal grandmother as vice mayor.
"Siya ay isang college graduate at siya ay kinuha ko bilang isang IT," he added, noting De La Serna and his friends handled Roque's social media accounts when he was still spokesman and during the elections, when he ran as senator.
He also previously said that the documents found in the raid at Lucky South 99 compound were owned by his former long-time staff, who's now studying in Clark, which is close to the POGO hub.
Roque said the documents were not criminal in nature, in line with the findings of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), which cleared his name.
The PAOCC said Roque was a lawyer for Whirlwind Corporation, the company that leased its property to Lucky South 99, but noted that there's "nothing criminal" for lawyering for the corporation.
