‘Bikoy’ may apply for witness protection — DOJ chief

MANILA, Philippines — The government may provide protection to Peter Joemel Advincula, the self-confessed “Bikoy” in the viral “Ang Totoong Narco List” videos who retracted his initial accusations against President Duterte’s family and accused Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other opposition personalities of plotting to oust the President.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said this yesterday as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) pursues its fact-finding probe on Advincula’s claims.

Guevarra, designated officer-in-charge of the executive department while Duterte is in Japan for an official visit, said Advincula may apply for coverage under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) following concerns on his security.

“Nothing prevents Bikoy from applying for WPP coverage but there are, of course, requirements that he has to meet for full coverage under the program,” he stressed.

“His eligibility will be subject to a careful evaluation by the DOJ,” Guevarra assured.

Guevarra explained Advincula would first have to cooperate with the NBI and submit a sworn affidavit detailing the allegations he made when he surrendered to the Philippine National Police last week.

“We note that at this time he has not submitted any statement under oath, much less any evidence, to support his allegations, either before the PNP or the prosecutor’s office or any other investigative body,” he pointed out.

But upon application and submission of an affidavit, Advincula may be given protection under provisional coverage of WPP, Guevarra further explained.

He said the status of Advincula under the program would then depend on DOJ’s evaluation of his credibility as a possible prosecution witness.

Advincula, who surfaced last May 6 to confess he was the hooded man who accused members of the Duterte family of involvement in illegal drug trade in the videos, surrendered to the PNP last week over pending estafa and illegal recruitment cases.

He said his allegations in the videos were not true and claimed Trillanes and the opposition paid him to make the video as part of the so-called Oplan Sodoma to oust Duterte.

Advincula also alleged he saw Vice President Leni Robredo “pass by” one of their meetings, but stressed that she did not join them.

Apart from Robredo and Trillanes, Advincula also tagged Sens. Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros as well as personalities from the Liberal Party in the alleged ouster plot.

The DOJ has repeatedly called on Advincula to cooperate with the NBI and present evidence – first when he surfaced last May 6 and second when he surrendered last week.

“Considering the gravity of Mr. Advincula’s allegations then and now, any and all questions regarding the veracity and the truthfulness of those allegations are best threshed out and addressed in a through investigation conducted by experts, following a rigorous legal process towards the ascertainment of the truth,” it stressed.

The DOJ wants to pursue the probe, citing the “serious implications of those revelations (by Advincula).”

Earlier this month, businessman Arven Valmores of Ardeur World Marketing filed a new estafa complaint against Advincula before the DOJ. Prosecutors started the preliminary investigation on the latest charge against him last Tuesday, but he did not appear at the hearing.

Bicolano businessman Elizaldy Co and his Misibis Bay Resort have also filed a P1-billion cyber libel suit against Advincula and social media giants Facebook and YouTube for the video that implicated them in illegal drug trade.  

De Lima, for her part, refuted the allegations of Advincula that she and the opposition was involved.

De Lima said she or anyone of her staff does not know Advincula.

“Let me start by stating, categorically, that like me, none of my staff has anything to do with the so-called Bikoy exposé. None of us knows Bikoy or has ever met or talked to him, or otherwise dealt with him,” she said.  – With Cecille Suerte