PDEA agrees ‘Bikoy’ can be held liable for cyberlibel

Screen shot of a video circulated online.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agrees that “Bikoy,” the hooded guy in the series of videos implicating the people close to President Rodrigo Duterte to a drug syndicate, can be held liable for cyberlibel.

“Yes, and it remains to be social media post,” PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon told INQUIRER.net when asked if the agency agrees with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde in saying that Bikoy may face a case of cyberlibel if he will not be able to support his claims.

But Carreon said the PDEA will not be able to investigate Bikoy’s allegations until there is “tangible basis” that he could provide the law enforcement agencies.

“It remains to be a social media post. Where are the actual documents?” he said.

According to Carreon, instead of looking into Bikoy’s exposé, “the first to investigate” regarding the videos may be whether Bikoy is guilty of cyberlibel.

He added that should the accusations of the supposed whistleblower be true, he should have approached concerned government agencies and not resort to social media.

READ: PNP chief warns ‘Bikoy’ of cyberlibel

The uploader of the videos was able to release on Easter Sunday the fifth episode of a series. In the latest video, “Bikoy” promised to reveal himself “in due time” and said he will stand by everything he said in the videos. /jpv