'Bikoy' runs as senator, downplays perjury conviction

MANILA, Philippines — Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who claims to be "Bikoy" in the controversial "narcolist" videos that went viral in 2019, is running as a senator in next year's elections.

Advincula submitted his certificate of candidacy on the last day of the filing period on Tuesday, October 8. He will run as an independent candidate. 

The flip-flopping whistleblower, who was found guilty last year of perjury for falsely claiming opposition figures plotted to oust former President Rodrigo Duterte, was quick to play down his legal troubles in explaining his plan to run as senator.  

He said the case against him is currently "on appeal" and that he had a legitimate cause to join the Senate. 

"That case is particularly on appeal [with the Court of Appeals]... That case involves moral turpitude," Advincula told the media after filing his candidacy as senator. 

"But we cannot discuss that appropriately in this situation," he added.

Without naming names, Advincula said he was convinced by certain groups to run as senator, adding that the decision was a "personal" and a "collective" one.

"It is not only a personal decision. It is a matter of collective decision... Groups, colleagues, who believe in my humble abilities, that if we sit in the Senate, we can help others," Advincula said in mixed Filipino and English. 

Advincula also said he would not support any impeach complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Explaining his platform, he said he wants to reform the correctional system and file a bill that will establish a "centralized" correction system. "Those who will be detained there will not be idle... They will benefit from true reform, from a true therapeutic modality program by the community," he said in mixed Filipino and English. 

In 2019, Advincula initially linked former President Rodrigo Duterte's children and his allies to the illegal drug trade through the "Ang Totoong Narcolist" video series.

He later backtracked on his allegations and claimed he was paid to malign the former president, his family and his allies by opposition figures, including then-Vice President Leni Robredo and then-Sen. Antonio Trillanes. He also claimed to have conspired with Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) lawyers Chel Diokno, Erin Tañada and Theodore Te. 

The FLAG lawyers then filed a criminal case against Advincula over his allegations. In May 2023, a Manila court found Advincula guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of perjury and sentenced to a jail term of three months and one day to one year and one day.

When asked about his qualifications beside being a whistleblower, Advincula quipped that he is not "mangmang (ignorant)." 

"Hindi naman tayo siguro mangmang na tao. Wala namang mangmang na tao. Kahit papaano may alam tayo at mulat sa nangyayari ngayon," he said.

(We are probably not ignorant people. There are no ignorant people. Somehow, we have knowledge and are aware of what is happening now.)