MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) is ready to investigate the video linking presidential son and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte to illegal drugs should he seek help from authorities.
“The ACG is ready to provide assistance to anyone victimized by online or cybercrimes, investigate the incident to determine authenticity and source and file necessary charges under the law,” PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac told INQUIRER.net in a text message Friday (April 5).
Asked categorically if the anti-cybercrime unit of the PNP will extend the same help if the presidential son will seek its assistance, Banac said “yes, like [to] everyone.”
But according to Banac, no one has come forward to file a complaint regarding the video, which now has been watched over 181,000 times and has gathered over 1,400 likes and 541 dislikes as of this posting.
“So the PNP just considers it as any other video clips available online,” he said.
Banac was referring to the video titled “Ang Totoong Narco List – Episode 1,” uploaded on YouTube on Monday (April 1), where an anonymous narrator and a hooded man named “Bikoy” tagged the younger Duterte as one of the “principals” of a drug syndicate who received kickbacks in the drug trade.
Banac said a possible investigation might lead to the unmasking of “Bikoy.”
The former Davao City vice mayor earlier claimed that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was behind the video. President Rodrigo Duterte added that the opposition, led by Trillanes, masterminded the creation of the video.
READ: Trillanes, opposition behind video linking Paolo to drugs – Duterte
READ: Paolo Duterte: Video exposé ‘stamped with indelible Trillanes signature’
Trillanes, one of the President’s fiercest critics, has denied involvement but added that he wished to have been part of the exposé.
READ: Trillanes: I wish I was part of the video exposé vs Paolo Duterte but I’m not
The allegations in the video prompted Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon to call for the reopening of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the issue of drug smuggling. /muf
READ: Video on Pulong prompts calls to reopen Senate drug probe