‘Bikoy’ charged for poll bets’ slay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Police have filed charges against Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy, for the murder of three political candidates of Sorsogon, who were found dead at his rented apartment in Daraga, Albay 10 days ago.

Advincula was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder before the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Legazpi City, the Daraga police reported yesterday.

The suspect was earlier identified by the lone survivor, Lalaine Amor, as the one who kidnapped Donsol Councilor Helen Garay, and traders Karen Averilla and Xavier Mirasol on Nov. 12.

Garay was running for mayor in the 2022 elections, while Averilla and Mirasol were seeking for seats in the Donsol council.

The victims were found dead in Advincula’s apartment in Barangay Busay, several hours after they were kidnapped.

Amor managed to escape when Advincula allegedly tried to seize her.

Advincula himself led police to where the bodies were located. He was immediately arrested and detained after Amor identified him as the kidnaper.

Daraga police chief Col. Bogard Arao said Advincula immediately owned up to the crime.

“Bikoy said he did not have any companion when he committed the crime,” Arao earlier said, noting the police are confident that Advincula would be convicted as charged

“Even without his admission, the witnesses’ testimonies and the pieces of evidence gathered by the police are enough to pin down Advincula as charged,” Arao said.

Advincula was the man who claimed to be ”Bikoy” in the controversial ”Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos that tagged the family of President Duterte in the illegal drug trade.