Sotto to ‘Bikoy:’ Give us proof to spur Senate probe
Screen shot of a video circulated online.
CALAMBA CITY, Philippines — The Senate is open to investigating the accusations of “Bikoy” against the relatives and allies of President Rodrigo Duterte as long as he gives them proof and documents that would substantiate his claim, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Monday.
Sotto said this after a man claiming to be “Bikoy,” the hooded person in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” series, earlier surfaced. He identified himself as Peter Joemel Advincula.
READ: ‘Bikoy’ unmasks himself
“If he [Advincula] would want the Senate to investigate, give us the proof, give us the documents,” Sotto said in a press conference here in Laguna.
“Submit to us the documents and we can have it investigated and then we will see if nararapat na tumawag kami ng hearing o hindi,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementSotto recalled a similar instance before the 2016 elections where a person came to his office and made the seemingly similar accusations against former President Benigno Aquino III, former Vice President Jejomar Binay and some officials in Bicol of being involved in illegal drug activities. But this time, Sotto noted, it was Go and Paolo Duterte who were being accused.
Article continues after this advertisementHe also pointed out that the person’s family name was similar to that of Advincula but he said he was not sure if it was the same person.
The Senate President said that during that time he had looked into the allegation but he hit a blank wall.
“Nung araw, totoo namang tiningnan namin, pinaimbestigahan ko, pinakausap ko eh, as a matter of fact, nagpunta yun sa isa sa mga staff ko para kausapin… They practically sounded the same as this one, but he never materialized,” Sotto said.
“Same family name hindi ko lang alam kung siya talaga yun, o same person. I’m not sure… Nadagdagan lang yung [accused] ngayon. Nadagdag sila Bong. Si Bong Go and si Pulong [Paolo Duterte] nadagdag,” he added.
Sotto reiterated that the Senate would investigate the issue if there are proof and documents, pointing out that the higher chamber of Congress could exercise its investigative powers on any issue.
“Iimbestigahan namin kung mayroong value ‘yung dapat imbestigahan; kung may dokumento na sinasabing tama o may proof. Kasi kung hindi, hindi naman pwede ang Senado basta basta na lang pumapatol na lumabas sa Facebook,” the Senate President said./ac
READ: Lacson: Senate to probe Bikoy’s claims if evidence is found
