Lacson eyes Senate probe on Bikoy’s claims

Lacson said Bikoy’s accusations linking the family and allies of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in the illegal drug trade have become an election issue. (File Photo: Senator Ping Lacson/Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said a congressional inquiry on the claims made by “Bikoy” in a series of YouTube videos called “Ang Totoong Narcolist” may be held within the week under the condition that he personally presents his sworn statement and evidence related to his accusations.

Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, made the statement after Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be Bikoy, appeared at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) office in Pasig City on Monday to seek legal assistance.

Lacson said Bikoy’s accusations linking the family and allies of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in the illegal drug trade have become an election issue.

“Like it or not, Bikoy has become a political, if not an election issue. The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs can schedule a hearing this week on one condition: Bikoy must personally present a sworn statement and his evidence to support his accusations,” Lacson said in a Twitter post.

Lacson, in a radio interview, noted that the Senate hearing would allow the public to determine for themselves whether Bikoy’s claims are credible or not.

“Yan lang paraan, paharap siya sa harap ng mga senador, sa harap ng publiko at doon mapag-aaralan natin ang sinasabi niya at demeanor niya (That’s the only way. He should face the senators, the public so that we could analyze his statements and observe his demeanor),” he said.

Advincula surfaced a few days after the NBI arrested Rodel Jayme, a freelance website developer in connection with the Bikoy videos.

Advincula claimed he did not know Jayme and denied that he was linked to opposition senatorial slate, Otso Diretso, or any media organizations or lawyers’ groups named in the Oust Duterte matrix.

The five-part video series called “Ang Totoong Narcolist” links presidential son and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, and presidential son-in-law Manases Carpio to illegal drug syndicates.