Barry Gutierrez (File photo by NESTOR CORRALES / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Some social media posts linking Vice President Leni Robredo to the arrested sharer of the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos were mere efforts to malign her and divert attention from drug allegations against some members of the Duterte family.
Robredo’s spokesperson, Atty. Barry Gutierrez, said this Friday following the circulation of a photo of Robredo and a man, allegedly Rodel Jayme, on Facebook. Jayme is the administrator and registrant of the website, metrobalita.net, which “consistently” shared the series of so-called narco-videos on social media.
“Malinaw na paninira na naman ito,” Gutierrez said in a statement.
READ: DOJ: Arrested blogger owns site that spread ‘Bikoy’ videos
On Thursday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Jayme. Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra said an inciting to sedition complaint has been filed against the narco-videos sharer.
READ: DOJ chief: Person arrested by NBI not ‘Bikoy’ videos uploader | NBI files inciting to sedition complaint vs ‘Ang Totoong Narcolist’ videos sharer
Clad in a hooded jacket, an anonymous “Bikoy” appeared in a series of videos that presents detailed allegations that presidential son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio, and President Rodrigo Duterte’s long-time aide Bong Go, among others, have ties with a drug syndicate.
But Gutierrez said Jayme has neither worked for Robredo nor her office.
“Kung totoo man na siya nga ang nasa photo kasama ng Bise Presidente, siya ay isa sa libu-libong naging supporter noong kampanya ng 2016 na bumibisita sa opisina at nagpakuha ng picture kasama si VP Leni,” he clarifed.
“Wala itong napapatunayan kundi madaling maghanap ng photo sa Facebook, at gumawa ng anumang kuwento tungkol dito, gaya ng ilang ulit nang ginawa sa mga miyembro ng oposisyon, kasama na si VP Leni,” the lawyer added.
Gutierrez then questioned why authorities prioritized the crackdown against Bikoy rather than investigate his claims.
“Nakapagtataka lamang na imbes na tingnan muna kung may katotohanan ang mga malalim na alegasyon sa video—halimbawa, sa simpleng pag-verify ng mga binanggit na bank accounts—mas binigyan pa ng pansin ang pag-imbestiga sa gumawa at naglabas nito,” he said. /kga