MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday that a hearing on claims made in the "Bikoy" videos may be held this week if the man claiming to be in them will personally hand in his sworn statement along with evidence to support his accusations.
Lacson posted on his Twitter account that the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs could schedule a legislative hearing on one condition: “Bikoy must personally present a sworn statement and his evidence to support his accusations.”
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.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) May 7, 2019
“Like it or not, Bikoy has become a political, if not an election issue,” he added.
Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, is chair of the Senate panel.
On Monday, Peter Joemel Advincula faced media and claimed that he is Bikoy, the man behind the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
He arrived past noon at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines office in Pasig City and read a prepared statement to reporters.
The IBP's board of governors has made clear that the national group of lawyers had nothing to do with Advincula's actions.
Advincula detailed his involvement in an alleged syndicate where one of his duties, he shared, was to scan codes embedded in the tattoos of senior members such as Go and former Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who is the president's son.
He said that after he was jailed for estafa and was released — after his sentence was reduced — in 2016, he decided to lead an honorable life. But Advincula said he was recognized by Go in one event.
“Bikoy” said he was later told that his life is in danger. He has since been hiding since August 2018.
Senatorial bet Bong Go bares his back again to disprove allegations that he has a tattoo that is linked to a drug syndicate. pic.twitter.com/GV0TsFQ7Og
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 6, 2019
Go, who is running for administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago slate, again showed his back to dispel the allegation that he was sporting a tattoo connected to the syndicate.
READ: Bong Go strips anew: No tattoos, just PSNBB
Advincula added that he is ready to face a Senate probe to prove that the contents of his video series are true.
IBP Davao: ‘Bikoy’ presscon reeks of drama, political agenda
The Davao chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines raised questions on its national chapter’s “staging” of the said press conference, despite the IBP president’s immediate clarification that the organization was caught unaware by“Bikoy’s” supposed arrival at their office.
In a statement, the IBP Davao chapter distanced itself from the press conference that it said “reeks of political agenda.”
READ: Palace questions credibility of man who claims to be ‘Bikoy’
The chapter also said that it was “the sole decision of the present leadership of the IBP National.”
“Certainly, the decision of the present leadership of the IBP National is not in accord with the said purposes. For one, Bikoy's storyline is polluted and it's source comes from the very mouth of an alleged suborner himself,” the statement added.
IBP not in custody of 'Bikoy'
Following Advincula’s statement, IBP President Abdiel Dan Fajardo was quick to clarify that the IBP has nothing to do with the man, and that when the press conference was held, they had yet to read his affidavit or the complaints he meant to file.
Fajardo stressed that the National Center for Legal Aid will still vet and evaluate Advincula’s claim and case before they can accept him as a client.
The IBP president said: “The NCLA will evaluate if there is merit and of the guy has no means, then they will decide if they will represent him or not.”
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, the IBP reiterated Advincula arrived at the IBP office to seek legal assistant and his application is still under evaluation.
It also clarified that Advincula is not under the custody and care of the IBP. The lawyers’ organization also said that it is unaware of the whereabouts of Advinkula.
It added: “The IBP continues to be the sentinel of the rule of law, in line with its mandate to maintain independence and credibility as the umbrella organization of all lawyers in the Philippines.”
EXPLAINER: Inside the inciting to sedition charge vs 'sharer' of 'Bikoy' videos