Accusers behind narco-video may face raps: PNP chief

Albayalde said those people behind the videos should bring out their evidence to court if they want to prove that former Davao City Vice Mayor and presidential son Paolo Duterte, Go, and Sara Duterte’s husband, Mans Carpio, are involved in drug transactions. (File photo by Joey O. Razon/PNA)

MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, on Monday said the people behind the video circulating on social media linking President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s former aide and senatorial bet Christopher “Bong” Go and three members of the Duterte family are benefiting from the illegal drugs trade may face possible cybercrime charges.

Albayalde said those people behind the videos should bring out their evidence to court if they want to prove that former Davao City Vice Mayor and presidential son Paolo Duterte, Go, and Sara Duterte’s husband, Mans Carpio, are involved in drug transactions.

“These are all self-serving. You can accuse anyone anytime, any day, anywhere in social media.

But I am sure if he is accusing someone, then let the evidence be brought to court if there is, we can help him file and if there’s none, he will be made liable for that,” Albayalde told reporters in ambush interview on Monday after a press briefing.

In the four sets of videos, a man, who identified himself as ‘Bikoy,’ tagged Paolo, President Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avancena, Carpio and Go as on the take of multi-million drug payola.

Albayalde said Bikoy and other persons behind the videos could be held liable for cyber libel.

“These are just accusations posted on the internet that could be the basis of a cybercrime charge. We have the anti-cybercrime law. You cannot just simply say some libelous [statements] to people,” the PNP chief said.

Albayalde said any person can make a video and upload it to social media, and make heavy accusations against anyone.

“Anybody can do anything or say anything in the social media but of course, we have to be responsible citizens especially for those who are throwing accusations,” he said.

“Number two is the timing. This is election period so the timing is indeed highly questionable,” said Albayalde who admitted to have seen only the first part of the video. “For all you know this might be part of propaganda this coming midterm elections.”

Albayalde said the PNP will conduct an investigation to unmask those behind the four viral videos and expects the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group to lead the probe.

The PNP chief, meanwhile, was quick to clarify that he did not receive any instructions from the President regarding the video, but said that they will investigate the videos and find the people behind it.

“We will do the initiative to identify this person,” Albayalde told reporters.

The videos speculated that Pulong and Go have dragon tattoos behind their back which also has the serial number of the bank accounts they use in receiving drug money.

Go earlier accepted Bikoy’s dare to show his back to refute the latter’s allegation.

Earlier, Malacañang challenged the people behind the video circulating on social media linking senatorial candidate Go to illegal drugs to file charges against him if they could prove their allegations were true.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo tagged the release of the video as “black propaganda” to hurt Go’s chances of winning a seat in the Senate during the upcoming midterm elections.