PNP confirming if ‘Bikoy’ has arrest warrant in Baguio

Police General Oscar Albayalde, PNP chief. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said they were verifying if Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be the “Bikoy” in a series of internet videos, had an arrest warrant in Baguio City.

“Unang-una wala kaming [nakuhang] warrant of arrest sa kanya. Wala pa kaming [nakuhang] reklamo. But we are confirming kung meron siyang warrant of arrest sa Baguio,” PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Albayalde said they received information that Advincula could have cases of large-scale illegal recruitment in Baguio City.

“Kasi the information that we got — meron siyang cases of large-scale illegal recruitment in Baguio City,” Albayalde said.

Aside from cases in Baguio City, Albayalde revealed Tuesday that Advincula was also jailed for six years due to an estafa case.

Advincula served his sentence in a jail in Marikina City but committed his illegal activities in Bicol, PNP chief disclosed.

READ: PNP: ‘Bikoy’ a former seminarian, ex-convict for illegal recruitment

Albayalde also said they were also verifying the identities of Advincula and Bikoy, the hooded man shown in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video.

“We have not confirmed na itong si Bikoy na naka-hood ay siya ring si Advincula na self-confessed Bikoy,” Albayalde said.

“‘Yung burden of proof lies on Advincula kung paano niya i-prove kung siya si Bikoy… kami rin ive-verify namin kung siya ay si Bikoy,” he added.

Expert needed to confirm Bikoy identity

However, PNP chief said they needed an expert to confirm the identity of the hooded man in the video.

“Kailangan siguro na expert kasi wala siyang [Bikoy] pinapakita. Kung may ipapakita siya na tattoo (ng sindikato) e di pakita niya,” Albayalde said. /cbb