‘Bikoy’ remarks a ‘rehash’: Palace

Panelo said he even found it “amusing” why media outlets continued to provide Advincula with media attention since he has long been “discredited”. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang on Sunday night dismissed anew the remarks of Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, saying his tagging of administrations to the illegal drug trade is nothing new.

Advincula, who earlier sought legal assistance from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), insisted that President Rodrigo Duterte, his family, and allies were involved in the illicit drug trade.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo belied these claims, calling it a “rehash” of his earlier claims that President Benigno Aquino III and some of his Cabinet members are also linked to the narcotics trade.

Panelo said he even found it “amusing” why media outlets continued to provide Advincula with media attention since he has long been “discredited”.

“It is amusing that some media outfits are still providing media attention to Peter Joemel Advincula. Suffice it to state that Mr. Advincula, or alias Bikoy, has been totally discredited as regards his allegations, his questionable character and dubious background,” Panelo said.

“His current remarks are a rehash of his 2016 scam plan against certain personalities of the previous administration as revealed by Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto who saw through his fraud as validated by the PNP (Philippine National Police) Chief Oscar Albayalde,” he added.

Panelo reiterated that Advincula was only being used as a “pawn” by the plotters conspiring to discredit the President, including the opposition Liberal Party, the Magdalo group, and media outlets.

He also said that the plot to discredit the chief executive and those close to him is also part of the plotters plan to boost opposition candidates’ chances of winning a seat in the midterm elections.

“Like all lies, the sinister online videos have been stripped of its falsity and laid bare to the public its odiousness. As we have previously stated the fraud has been undressed naked and the perpetrators unmasked,” Panelo said.

Panelo, meanwhile, said Palace will leave it to Filipinos to make their own judgement on Advincula’s allegations.