Trillanes to DOJ : Go slow on ‘whistleblowers,’ disprove Duterte drug links
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) should probe and disprove the drug allegations hurled at some members of the Duterte family instead of intensifying its crackdown against “whistleblowers,” opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said Friday.
“Sec. Guevarra should slowdown on his crackdown on whistleblowers linking Duterte and Bong Go to illegal drugs lest he himself be suspected of protecting druglords,” the staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte said in a statement.
“Sec. Guevarra must first investigate and disprove the allegations of both Col. Acierto and Bikoy before he could say that their statements are untrue,” he added.
READ: DOJ urged to clarify ‘arrest’ of ‘Totoong Narcolist’ videos ‘uploader’
The lawmaker suggested this after the DOJ Office of the Cybercrime Officer-In-Charge Atty. Charito Zamora said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had arrested the alleged “uploader” of the controversial series of “Totoong Narcolist” video for cyberlibel.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: ‘Totoong Narcolist’ ‘uploader’ arrested – DOJ exec
Article continues after this advertisementBut Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra clarified that the person arrested, Rodel Jayme, was not the uploader but the administrator and registrant of the website, metrobalita.net, which “consistently” shared the videos on social media. He added that an inciting to sedition complaint will be filed against Jayme.
READ: DOJ chief: Person arrested by NBI not ‘Bikoy’ videos uploader | NBI files inciting to sedition complaint vs ‘Ang Totoong Narcolist’ videos sharer
An anonymous “Bikoy” earlier appeared in a series of videos detailing his accusation that presidential son Paolo Duterte, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio, and long-time aide Bong Go have ties with a drug syndicate.
Meanwhile, sacked Police Colonel Eduardo Acierto had accused former economic adviser Michael Yang and a Chinese national Allan Lim of having involvement in the drug trade.
READ: Ex-cop linked to P11-B ‘shabu’ smuggling fears for life | Ex-police official: Duterte photographed with drug-linked Chinese
Malacañang meanwhile downplayed and denied both claims. /muf
READ: Palace: Duterte will ‘kill’ Michael Yang if he’s into illegal drugs
