‘Bikoy’ applies for witness protection

MANILA, Philippines — Peter Joemel Advincula—the man claiming to be “Bikoy”—has applied to be placed under the government’s witness protection program, citing risk to his life and security.

Advincula’s lawyer, Larry Gadon, submitted his application to be placed under the Department of Justice’s protection program Monday.

“With the different prominent political figures and various influential personalities that I divulged and disclosed during the series of investigation conducted by the Philippine National Police particularly the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, my life and the life of my family and security is at risk,” Advincula said in a letter addressed to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

He requested to be placed under the direct supervision, handling and protection of Col. Benjamin Silo Jr. from the Northern Police District and Maj. Ronnie Fabia from the CIDG Albay.

A witness under the program established under Republic Act 6981 may receive security protection and escort services, immunity from criminal prosecution, secured housing facility, livelihood assistance, subsistence allowance and free medical treatment.

Advincula is both a respondent and a witness in the CIDG’s inciting to sedition complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo, Sens. Leila De Lima and Risa Hontiveros, and former lawmakers Bam Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV over an alleged plot to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte.

Also included in the criminal complaint were church leaders and Otso Diretso senatorial candidates except former Interior and Local Government chief Mar Roxas.

Advincula initially linked the president’s relative to the illegal drug trade in the “Ang Totoong Narco List” videos but he retracted his story and accused opposition personalities of plotting to oust Duterte. — Gaea Katreena Cabico