‘Bikoy’ left PNP without promised evidence, says Albayalde

Peter Joemel Advincula, the man claiming to be “Bikoy” (left center) and PNP chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde. PHOTO by CATHRINE GONZALES / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Peter Joemel Advincula, the man claiming to be “Bikoy” in the narcolist videos, left the Philippine National Police (PNP) without leaving the documentary evidence he promised, PNP chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.

“Wala pa[ng evidence na binigay] basically, kasi hindi naman natin pwedeng kunin sa kanya ‘yun without his statement (He has not given evidence yet, because we cannot ask it from him without his statement),” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Albayalde said Advincula promised to return with his extrajudicial confession and with a lawyer, but said the PNP cannot force him either if he decides not to pursue his claims against the Liberal Party and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

But the PNP chief said he believes Advincula — whose credibility has repeatedly been questioned — will return as he promised.

“He will be submitting everything upon his return kung babalik siya. And we believe na most probably [he will], dahil ‘yun ang sinabi niya,” he said.

(He will submit everything upon his return if he will indeed return. And we believe that most probably he will, because that’s what he said.)

Advincula surrendered to police last Wednesday and retracted all his claims on drug links of close allies and relatives of President Rodrigo Duterte in the narcolist videos. He said the videos were “orchestrated” by the LP “under the handling” of Trillanes.

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

His blood pressure then shot up and he was admitted to the PNP General Hospital, where he was released on Saturday afternoon. He has also posted bail for his two estafa cases.

READ: ‘Bikoy’ discharged from PNP hospital

Advincula, however, did not give any timeframe of when he will resurface.

What happens then if Advincula goes into hiding again?

“Nasa imbestigador ‘yan. Ang [requirement] kasi diyan kailangan niya ng assistance ng lawyer. Hindi mo pwedeng pilitin ‘yan. Kailangan niya [ng] assistance with the lawyer. We cannot get his statements kung kami-kami lang. That will not hold water,” Albayalde said.

(It will be up to the investigator. He needs the assistance of a lawyer. We cannot force him. We cannot get his statements if we alone will do it. That will not hold water.

Nevertheless, Albayalde said the PNP maintains its position that Advincula still has to substantiate his claims with proof before he can be found credible.

He also said the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is in constant communication with the family of “Bikoy.” (Editor: Julie Espinosa)