MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima on Friday said that like her, none of her staff has anything to do with Peter Joemel Advincula who suddenly recanted his drug allegations against relatives of President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies.
Advincula, who claims to be “Bikoy” of the “Totoong Narcolist” videos, claimed in May that Paolo Duterte, Manases Carpio and Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go had been receiving money from a drug syndicate.
On Thursday, Advincula surfaced and said these claims were fabricated and were allegedly directed by the Liberal Party (LP), including De Lima, and opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to oust the President and install Vice President Leni Robredo as President. The Philippine National Police (PNP) presented Advincula in a press conference even though its chief, General Oscar Albayalde, had called him an “information peddler.”
READ: ‘Bikoy’ changes tune on videos
Advincula also alleged that he had met with De Lima’s staff, a claim that the senator has denied.
“Let me start by stating, categorically, that like me, none of my staff has anything to do with the so-called ‘Bikoy’ exposé. None of us knows ‘Bikoy’ or has ever met or talked to him, or otherwise dealt with him,” she said in a dispatch from her detention cell at Camp Crame.
De Lima said the “bizarre turn of events” seemingly supports the theory that Advincula is either a “professional con artist being used by sinister forces against the opposition” or a “criminal psychopath with a superb ability to concoct tales.”
De Lima nonetheless believes that Advincula’s claims, especially those against the Dutertes, should still be investigated.
READ: Lacson: Senate may probe ‘Bikoy’s’ new claims if backed by evidence
Senate Presiden Vicente Sotto III earlier bared that Advincula approached him in 2016 and tried to link then President Benigno Aquino III, De Lima, and other former government officials to the illegal drug trade. He turned down the information.
On Thursday, Advincula admitted that his drug allegations against Aquino and De Lima were also fabricated and directed by people in the Bureau of Correction who have personal grudges against the lady senator.
De Lima said she already knew this. However, she said this does not make Advincula credible.
“A liar can tell the truth in order to give credence to his lies, and he can lie in order to poison the truth; it doesn’t make the lies any more true, or the truths any more false. The question is how do we tell the difference? By using reason and discernment, and digging deeper,” the senator said.
“I go back to what I’ve been saying all this time. Truth is paramount. And the truth shall set me free, literally!” she added. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)