MANILA, Philippines — Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano insisted that he and the rest of the Otso Diretso senatorial candidates have never met “Bikoy” or Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be behind the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
This was contrary to Advincula’s claims that he met the opposition candidates several times to discuss the video series which was aimed at tarnishing the reputation of administration-backed bets.
“Unang-una, ‘yong binanggit na naka-harap niya raw ang Otso Diretso? ‘Yan una, ‘yan ay mali. Sinabi ko na noon no’ng ako’y tinanong, hindi ko kilala si Bikoy, at hindi ko pa siya naka-usap ni minsan,” Alejano said in an interview with DZMM on Thursday morning.
“Kasinungalingan ‘yan, hindi ko pa naka-usap ‘yong mga kasama ko sa Otso Diretso, talagang nagugulat ako na naka-harap daw namin si Bikoy, ang Otso Diretso except kay Mar Roxas, that’s purely a lie,” he added.
According to the lawmaker who ran for senator in the 2019 midterm elections, he would consult with the rest of his fellow candidates on what legal actions to take against Advincula, who is now under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“I’ll consult with my fellow Otso Diretso candidates, pwede naming kasuhan ‘yan si Bikoy dahil naninira ng reputasyon at pangalawa, imagine mo ang objective (daw) namin pabagsakin si President Duterte, gawa-gawang kwento, kalokohan po ‘yan,” Alejano noted.
Earlier, Advincula said that aside from the plan to bring down the survey ratings of the administration candidates including Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go, LP also tried to orchestrate “Project Sodoma” which was allegedly a plot to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: ‘Bikoy’: Entire ‘Ang Totoong Narcolist’ was not true, LP was mastermind
READ: Project Sodoma: ‘Bikoy’ says opposition wanted Duterte ousted
“‘Yong sinasabi nila na istratehiya ito ng Otso Diretso para pabagsakin ang kandidato at gobyerno ni President Duterte, ‘yan ay ridiculous. Kami ay tumakbo sa plataporma na para sa ating bansa […] nagtaya tayo ng buhay para sa ating bansa gagawa ng kalokohan para maluklok sa pwesto?” he asked.
“Sigurado akong hindi totoo ‘yan,” he added.
Alejano, along with Otso Diretso stalwarts former Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada and former solicitor general Florin Hilbay denied having links to Bikoy. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)
READ: Otso bets: New matrix a ‘desperate’ bid to smear Duterte foes