Malacañang on Thursday urged Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who claimed to be ‘Bikoy’ and behind the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, to “substantiate” his confession that some members of the opposition Liberal Party (LP), including Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, are behind these videos.
Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo made this reaction after Advincula surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, claiming Trillanes and other members of the LP orchestrated the videos tagging President Rodrigo Duterte, his family, and allies to the illegal drug trade.
Advincula also apologized to Duterte, presidential son Paolo, his brother-in-law Maneses Carpio and former presidential aide and now senator-elect, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go for dragging them in the issue.
”While Mr. Advincula’s explosive statement may be in line with our previous stance that the series of online Ang Totoong Narcolist videos were done to besmirch the reputation of the President for the people to lose confidence in him, we would rather wait for him to substantiate his confession and revelations on the participation of certain personalities identified with the Liberal Party and the opposition with proof,” Panelo said.
Panelo said Advincula’s latest revelation is a “sharp contrast” to his previous action to conduct a press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) office, where the objective was black propaganda against the Duterte administration.
He said although Advincula’s revelation could be the “onset” of unmasking the persons behind the controversial videos, he needs to prove before law enforcement authorities that his claims are true.
Panelo said Palace will leave it to law enforcement authorities the task of investigating Advincula’s claims.
“We will leave it to the concerned authorities to investigate and ferret out the truth in Mr. Advincula’s narratives on the opposition’s sinister plot to oust the Duterte administration with the involvement of certain personalities he mentioned,” Panelo said.
“As a lawyer I just don’t believe in what a person says. He has to substantiate, he has to submit proof. He mentioned several personalities, he mentioned several conversations, he can submit those conversations by way of telephone, text messages or whatever means of communications,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Earlier, Panelo released a series of matrices linking members of the LP, Magdalo group, and media behind a plot to discredit the President which match Advincula’s latest revelation.
On May 6, Advincula appeared at the IBP office in Pasig City to seek legal assistance after claiming there were threats to his life.
The Presidential Spokesperson reiterated that neither Duterte nor his family are involved in the narcotics trade since he is the “most powerful advocate against the use of illegal drugs.”
“We reiterate that no member of the First Family has been, is, or will ever be involved in illegal drugs. In the end truth will always come out in full bloom no matter how it is clothed with falsities,” Panelo said.
Panelo, however, welcomed Advincula’s apology to Duterte, his family, and allies.
“I think a public confession is more than a personal confession because your audience will be the entire country,” Panelo said.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte described Advincula as a “scam” created by people who oppose the Duterte administration while Davao congressman-elect Paolo Duterte said his videos were “fabricated” from the very start.
Meanwhile, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, for his part, described Advincula’s latest revelation as “more interesting” and quipped about buying popcorn.
“The turn of events have made this drama more interesting. Now its Bikoy's words vs Sen. Trillanes and the Liberal Party's. I’m going to the grocery to buy popcorn,” Andanar said. (PNA)
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