Robredo denies meeting or knowing ‘Bikoy’

Vice President Leni Robredo speaks to media to deny ever knowing or meeting Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be the ‘Bikoy’ in the ‘Ang Totoong Narcolist’ videos. INQUIRER.NET / KATRINA HALLARE

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said that she never met Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be the “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

“Pagkatapos ng press con ni mismong Bikoy, it was brought to my attention na nagkita kami,” Robredo told media at the Vice President’s reception house in Quezon City.

She added, “Hindi ko siya kilala. Never ko siyang nakausap. Never ko siyang naka-text, never nagka-communication between us.”

Robredo issued the statement after Advincula faced media in Camp Crame a few hours earlier and retracted all the claims he purportedly made in viral videos that accused family members and close friends of President Rodrigo Duterte of involvement in illegal drugs.

After the turnaround, Advincula accused members of the Liberal Party (LP) and Senator Antonio Trillanes of orchestrating the videos, which he called “lies.”

READ: ‘Bikoy’ says claims in narco videos are lies; tags LP, Trillanes

At one point, he claimed that he once “saw” Robredo “come by” Ateneo de Manila, one of the places where he allegedly met members of the LP while planning destabilization moves against Duterte.

He said he did not talk to or get close to the Vice President.

Robredo said the first time she heard of Advincula was during his press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

“Yung accusations na iyon, dahil hindi totoo, handa akong humarap sa kahit anong forum. Handa akong humarap sa kahit anong imbestigasyon. Panatag ang kalooban ko sa katotohanan,” the Vice President added.

Wanting to clear the opposition party’s name, she said, “I can speak for the party: Wala kaming kinalaman dito sa Bikoy issue.”

“Kung ito ay harassment [o] ginagawang paraan para lalong yurakan at tapakan ang Liberal Party o kaming nasa oposisyon, hindi ito dahilan para magpapatinag tayo,” Robredo said, addressing fellow LP members.

Earlier, after the Bikoy videos came out and claimed Duterte’s family and friends were into the drug trade, Robredo thought of seeking protection for the “whistleblower.”

She asked if Bikoy could be admitted to the Witness Protection Program while criminal allegations against Duterte’s kin, who included the President’s 13-year-old daughter, were investigated. (Editor: Cenon B. Bibe Jr.)

READ: Robredo: Can Bikoy be admitted into witness protection program?