IBP turns down Bikoy’s request for legal assistance
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has turned down the request of Peter Joemel "Bikoy" Advincula to be provided legal assistance in filing complaints against selected members of the Duterte family and senatorial aspirant Christopher “Bong” Go over their alleged involvement in the narcotics trade.
“The Integrated Bar of the Philippines through its National Center for Legal Aid (NCLA) is declining the request for free legal assistance made by Peter Joemel Advincula (Bikoy),” said IBP President Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo in a statement.
“This decision was reached after a thorough evaluation of
his application was conducted by the NCLA,” he added.
The IBP made its decision after Advincula held a press conference Monday at the IBP head office in Pasig City and claimed to the hooded “Bikoy” in the viral videos “Ang Totoong Narcolist” which had accused the Duterte family and Go of being involved in the illegal drugs trade.
“Mr. Advincula came to the IBP NCLA to request free legal assistance and representation in the filing of charges against certain individuals, including candidates for elective positions, because of their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. His application was duly processed just like any other request received by the NCLA,” Fajardo noted.
However, Fajardo explained that the NCLA determined that “Mr. Advincula may not be provided free legal assistance based on the standards provided for in the NCLA Manual of Operations in approving such requests.”
“In the pursuit of its mandate to provide access to justice to the poor and the marginalized, the IBP cannot be seen to be siding with or going against any candidate or political party,” he stressed.
Fajardo, meantime, disclosed that “communications and documents submitted during consultation shall remain privileged and confidential.”
With this development, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, has cancelled the investigation on the “Totoong Narcolist” videos.
A con artist?
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) bared Wednesday that Advincula has acted as a confidential informant for at least two law enforcement agencies in exchange for large sums of money.
However, instead of being a valuable asset, Advincula allegedly gave fake intelligence information to the involved government agencies, said Police General Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief.
"Mayroon dito na nakapagbigay ng pera sa kanya it's because that's part of intelligence. Marunong siya magbenta ng information especially so even false information (There's this one [agency] which gave him money as part of intelligence [gathering]. He knows how to sell even false information)," Albayalde told reporters.
"Then there is another agency, binayaran siya ulit and then false ulit ang sinasabi niya so ganoon (Then there is another agency which also paid him and then he gave false information too)," he added.
Albayalde refused to name the involved agencies although he noted that Advincula gave them fake "drug links" on supposed drug syndicates called Quadrangle Group and Davao Group involving politicians and businessmen.
Advincula allegedly obtained P50,000 to P70,000 each from the two government agencies by selling fake intelligence information, Albayalde noted.
'Drug laboratory'
Albayalde cited one instance when Advincula was jailed at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa in 2016 due to a case for large-scale illegal recruitment.
Advincula allegedly made authorities believe that he was a member of the Quadrangle Group through an inmate that he befriended.
"Way back 2016, based on our monitoring and profiling when he was still at the Bilibid, he made it known through one inmate that he was involved in a drug syndicate and that he knows the location of a big drug laboratory in Bicol. When it was verified by the authorities, the laboratory he was referring to was actually a resort," Albayalde narrated.
Advincula also borrowed money from inmates at Bilibid which he failed to pay since he was freed in 2016, the country's top cop said.
Aside from that, the PNP Chief revealed that Advincula left their house in Bicol in 2018 after supposedly running away the prize money intended for a beauty pageant.
"Kaya siya lumayas doon sa Bicol napagalitan siya ng kapatid niya it's because mayroon siyang tinakbong pera from a beauty pageant (He left Bicol because his sibling scolded him after taking the money from a beauty pageant)," Albayalde stated.
"At ngayon based on our verification, mayroon pa pala siyang mga large-scale illegal recruitment case also in Baguio. So ibig sabihin talagang medyo may pagkaproblema ito pagdating sa pera (And now based on our verification, he also has a large-scale illegal recruitment case in Baguio. So it means that he really is problematic when it comes to money)," he said.
Earlier, Albayalde said that Advincula was sentenced to six years of imprisonment in 2012 after being convicted of large-scale illegal recruitment in Bicol. His sentence was cut short to four years at the Bilibid prisons where he taught religious things since he was a former seminarian.
Advincula also has a standing case for estafa before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
When Advincula revealed himself at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) building in Pasig City Monday, he admitted to being jailed due to estafa for four years.
However, Advincula claimed that he has "changed" and in fact found a decent job.
For sale
If indeed Advincula is Bikoy, Albayalde raised the possibility that he might have been or was already paid by a group to link President Duterte's family and close allies into the illegal drug trade.
"Pwedeng baka naghahanap siya ng bidder dito, that is not farfetched. Baka mamaya bait ito. Remember magaling nga siya (It's a possibility that he is finding a bidder. Probably, this is a bait. Remember, he is really an expert at these things),” he said.
“I am not accusing him or hindi po ako nagco-conclude dito. Pwede ito ay mga posibilidad na nakatanggap na siya at lumabas na siya, pwedeng nagpapabid siya or pwedeng nagpapataas siya ng presyo. Ito yung nakikita natin dito (I am not accusing him nor jumping into conclusion. The possibilities are that he already has been paid so he came out in the open, or he is bidding, or he waits for the value [of his supposed intelligence information] to go high. It's what we are seeing here),” he added.
Ultimatum
Meanwhile, Advincula will be charged with inciting to sedition should he fail to appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and file a complaint against the family of President Duterte and senatorial bet Christopher “Bong” Go for their involvement in the narcotics trade,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra warned Wednesday.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) already filed last Tuesday an inciting to sedition case before the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against webmaker Rodel Jayme over his alleged involvement in the distribution of the viral videos “Ang Totoong Narcolist.”
Guevarra said Advincula, who claims to be Bikoy in the videos, could be included as Jayme’s co-accused in the case now pending with the Parañaque RTC.
“The NBI is waiting for Advincula/Bikoy to show up and submit his complaint with supporting evidence against the persons he implicated in the illegal drug trade,” the Secretary told reporters.
“Should he fail to do so, the DOJ will consider his possible inclusion in Rodel Jayme's inciting to sedition case or indictment for other criminal charges after proper investigation,” he stated.
The videos feature the hooded Bikoy who claims to be a former drug syndicate member and has personal knowledge about the illegal drug activities of the Duterte family and Go.
The NBI arrested Jayme last week and seized his computer and mobile phone from his home in Parañaque City.
It was determined that Jayme was the administrator of metrobalita.net which has been sharing the videos and has also been in contact with those behind the videos whom he claims to be fellow Liberal party supporters.
Following Jayme’s arrest, Advincula surfaced last Monday and revealed that he was “Bikoy” in a press conference held at the IBP head office.
During the press conference, Advincula denied ever knowing Jayme, but confirmed the accusations he made against the family and allies of Duterte. (With reports from Martin A. Sadongdong, Jeffrey G. Damicog, and Hannah L. Torregoza)