Former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque has expressed support for actor Joshua Garcia following the online backlash over the latter’s alleged repost of a pro-Vice President Sara Duterte video on TikTok.
In a Facebook post, Roque praised Garcia, saying the actor supposedly chose not to hide his political beliefs despite the criticism he has received online. Roque, who has remained a supporter of the Duterte family, also addressed supporters of former Vice President Leni Robredo in his message.
“Kakampinks, huwag na kayong ma-stress kay Joshua Garcia.”
He went on to commend the actor, writing: “In an industry where showing support to Inday Sara Duterte could invite cancellation, Joshua refuses to hide his political convictions. Daghang salamat, Joshua, for choosing integrity over manufactured image. Such conviction as yours is rare and such courage as yours too deserves respect.”
Garcia recently became the subject of online discussion after social media users noticed that his TikTok account had apparently reposted a fan-made video featuring highlights of Vice President Duterte’s impeachment trial. The video contained hashtags associated with Duterte supporters, prompting speculation about the actor’s political views.
The issue intensified after screenshots circulated online showing that Garcia was allegedly following Duterte and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Instagram. Days later, netizens claimed that both public officials were no longer on the actor’s following list, leading to further speculation that the move came after the backlash.
Supporters and critics have remained divided over the controversy. While some questioned Garcia’s alleged political leanings, others argued that following public officials or interacting with content on social media should not automatically be interpreted as a political endorsement.
Roque continued to defend the actor by sharing reports about his statement on social media. Meanwhile, fellow Duterte ally Sen. Robin Padilla also appeared to show support by sharing a clip from one of his previous films with Garcia.
As of writing, Garcia has not publicly addressed the controversy or Roque’s statement. His management has likewise yet to issue an official response regarding the alleged repost or the reported changes to his social media following list.