DOJ warns of cases vs ‘Bikoy’ coddlers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday vowed to run after individuals coddling Peter Joemel Advincula, the self-confessed “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos that accused several members of the presidential family of links to the illegal drug trade.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the coddlers of Advincula could face criminal cases as the latter is now considered a fugitive because of outstanding arrest warrants against him issued by courts in several provinces over estafa and illegal recruitment cases.

“Coddlers of (a) fugitive are criminally liable for obstruction of justice. Those who are proven to be helping Advincula hide from authorities will face cases,” Guevarra said.

The government is not considering putting up a bounty for Advincula’s arrest – like in the case of former police official Eduardo Acierto – at this time as authorities are confident of arresting him, according to the DOJ chief.

Earlier, the DOJ alerted the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to monitor and prevent the possible flight of Advincula.

Guevarra said BI offices at all international airports have been alerted to hold any attempt of Advincula to leave the country as he is now considered a fugitive from justice.

Guevarra cited the outstanding warrants of arrest against Advincula issued by regional trial courts in Baguio City and La Trinidad in Benguet over illegal recruitment and estafa cases as basis for the order.

The justice chief said his office is also considering seeking issuance of a hold departure order from the courts, but stressed that the warrants would suffice to arrest him at the airports.

Last Monday, Advincula surfaced and held a press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines headquarters in Pasig City and reiterated his story that several personalities supposedly belonging to the “Quadrangle” and “Davao” groups are involved in the illegal drug trade.

He stood by his claims that Duterte’s children Paolo and Sara and her husband Manases Carpio as well as the President’s partner Cielito Avanceña and their daughter Kitty are benefiting from the illegal drug trade.

Advincula admitted that he had served prison term from 2012 to 2016 after conviction in cases of illegal recruitment and large-scale estafa.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has found that Advincula is a wanted person for cases of estafa and illegal recruitment.

In September 2007, Baguio Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Ruben Ayson issued an arrest warrant for Advincula for illegal recruitment.

In the same month, La Trinidad, Benguet RTC Judge Delilah Gonzales-Muñoz also issued a warrant of arrest against him for estafa cases.

Also last week, businessman Arven Valmores of Ardeur World Marketing filed a new estafa complaint against Advincula before the DOJ.

Valmores alleged that Advincula sponsored a beauty pageant in Albay in August last year and used the corporate name and logo of Valmores’ business – without his consent – for promotion.

Valmores said that Advincula did not attend the pageant held on Aug. 11 and he “became unreachable, thereby leaving all the members of the production staff unpaid.”

He said as the production staff and pageant winners sought redress, he had to shell out P304,422 to cover the expenses of the pageant.

The PNP has launched a manhunt for Advincula.