Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, yesterday cancelled the Senate inquiry into the allegations made by Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be “Bikoy” in a video series which linked President Duterte, his family, and allies in the illegal drugs trade scheduled tomorrow.
Lacson cancelled the investigation shortly after the Integrated Bar of the Philippines turned down Peter Joemel Advincula’s request for legal assistance and Senate President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III cast doubts on the credibility of Advincula whom he said had earlier linked former President Benigno S. Aquino III and former government officials to illegal drugs in 2016.
“SP Sotto said it all. We are now recalling the letter of invitation sent to Advincula yesterday,” Lacson said in his Twitter account. “Notices will be sent out for the cancellation of the committee hearing on Friday. Enough of this nonsense,” he added.
Lacson said he believes there is no need to investigate the issue since it was clear that Advincula made fabricated allegations. “Papatulan pa ba natin? Napaka-glaring ang alam natin na gawa-gawa talaga,” he pointed out.
Lacson said Advincula made the mistake of coming out, saying he should have just basked in anonymity if he wanted to make his allegations believable. “Ang isang pagkakamali ni Bikoy ang paglantad niya. Siguro kung nanatili siyang anonymous, nagtago na lang as alias Bikoy at nanatiling nakakanlong, di nagpakita, di siya mamalasin nang ganito,” the senator said.
He said it was good that the Senate President was able to keep the files and the affidavit Advincula submitted to his office back in 2016 and was able to compare it with the documents he featured in his YouTube videos.
“Binaligtad niya. Mga pangalan lang. Cast of characters lang pinalitan. Pero masasabi ko rin isang pagkakamali niya, trabahong tamad. Di na nagbago ng identity code.”
“Kung makikita ninyo kanina identity code ni Paolo Duterte pareho rin ang identity code na ginamit sa 2016 sa ibang tao naman, 0029 Alpha Sierra binaligtad lang niya Sierra Alpha. So medyo trabahong tamad, di masyadong nagisip. Akala niya he can get away,” added Lacson.
Lacson said it wouldn’t make sense if the Senate digs up Advincula’s allegations when his credibility is questionable. “Wala ng hearing. Mag-send out na notice na kina-cancel ang pagdinig at wala nang pagdinig na pangyayari tungkol sa issue na nilabas ni Bikoy. It doesn’t make sense,” he pointed out. (Hannah Torregoza)
