A former convict, claiming to be behind the series of videos implicating President Duterte’s relatives in the illegal drug trade, showed up yesterday at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and sought their help.
Peter Joemel Advincula admitted that he was “Bikoy” in the videos entitled, “Ang Totoong Narco List.”
He said he decided to surface because he has been receiving death threats since the videos went viral.
“Nandito ako ngayon sa tanggapan ng IBP upang humingi ng legal assistance. Kailangan ko ng abogado para i-submit ang akong sinumpaang salaysay at tulungan akong magsampa n kaso laban sa mga miyembro ng sindikato na pinangalanan ko sa video seryeng ‘Ang Totoong Narco List’,” said Advincula in a hastily-called press conference at the IBP.
“Nagdesisyon akong lumabas dahil una – meron banta sa aking buhay. Ikalawa – dahil sa tawag ng konsensya. Nakikita ko ang pagwasak ng pamilya na dulot ng droga, na kung saan naging bahagi ako sa pagpapakalat nito nuong miyembro pa ako ng sindikato. Panahon na upang puksain ang pamamahayag ng sindikatong ito,” he added.
Advincula said he is willing to testify before the Senate.
In the series of videos, Bikoy linked presidential son Paolo Duterte, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Bong Tesoro Go, and Maneses Carpio, the husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in illegal drugs.
Advincula, reportedly accompanied by a group of nuns to the IBP, admitted that he was sentenced for six years in 2012 for estafa, but was released in 2016 because of good behavior.
“Naisipan ko na magbagong buhay at nakahanap ako ng trabaho na legal at marangal,” he said.
He stressed that he is not affiliated with the opposition or being used by anyone.
“Gusto kong linawin na wala akong kaugnayan sa kahit kaninong kandidato, lalo na sa mga kandidato ng Otso Diretso, o political party. Wala din akong kaugnayan sa mga media personalities at institusyon na pinangalanan ni Pangulong Duterte sa kanyang Matrix,” he said.
He also said that he does not know Rodel Jayme, allegedly the web administrator of the website where the series of videos were uploaded.
Jayme, who was arrested by the NBI, tagged the Liberal Party and Magdalo groups as the ones who told him to make the website.
The Department of Justice yesterday approved the filing of inciting to sedition charges against Jayme for in connection with the Bikoy videos.
“Inquest prosecutors have found probable cause to indict Rodel Jayme for violation of Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act,” said DoJ spokesman Undersecretary Markk Perete. “If convicted, Jayme faces imprisonment of six years and one day to twelve years, among other penalties,” he added.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Anna Noreen Devandadera, who is the inquest prosecutor, said the charge sheet is ready for filing before the Paranaque City Regional Trial Court this morning. “The information has already been signed and will be filed tomorrow morning,” said Devanadera who noted that the case is bailable at P36,000.
Meanwhile, the IBP said that, like the Public Attorneys Office (PAO), they are mandated to help anyone who seeks legal assistance.
However, IBP has not yet accepted to represent Advincula in court.
“We have a process. The NCLA (National Center for Legal Aid) will evaluate the evidence’s merit, then, they will decide if they will represent him or not,” said lawyer Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, IBP president. (Jel Santos, Jhon Casinas, and Jeffrey Damicog)
