Peter Joemel Advincula, who is claiming to be “Bikoy,” is presented at Camp Crame on May 23, 2019. INQUIRER file photo / Lyn Rillon
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives may soon summon the controversial Peter Joemel Advincula as well as representatives of social media giants Facebook and Youtube after a lawmaker filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the “Ang Totoong Narcolist (The Real Narcolist)” videos.
In a statement Wednesday, Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said he filed House Resolution No. 2585 directing the committee on information and communications technology to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the videos which were widely circulated on various social media platforms.
Advincula, who claimed to be “Bikoy” in the video series, alleged on May 6 that members and allies of the Duterte family had been receiving drug money from a drug syndicate.
READ: ‘Bikoy’ changes tune on videos
Appearing with ranking Philippine National Police officials on May 23, Advincula bared that his claims were fabricated and he was allegedly directed by opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and the Liberal Party to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte and install Vice President Leni Robredo as President.
Trillanes, LP president Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Robredo have denied this.
READ: What happened then and now: Dissecting the twists and turns of ‘Bikoy’s’ tales
Garbin said he is also calling for the passage of a measure providing for a “take down” clause that would “allow government, without a need for a court order, to demand the immediate removal of social media contents that are libelous, seditious, defamatory and/or contrary to any provision of existing laws.”
“… We believe that there is an imperative need to determine and inquire into the possible liabilities of the social media platforms, who failed to develop security features and/or filtering practices in order to regulate unlawful an/or harmful videos, postings, and other materials with highly libelous and grievously defamatory content,” he pointed out.
The party-list lawmaker said someone should be held accountable for the existence and spread of the videos which he said: “maliciously hurled false accusations against the members of President Duterte’s family and other personalities, including Elizaldy Co, owner of Misibis Bay Resort, a five-star luxury hotel, and resort in Albay.”
“Social media platforms owe it to the public to vet and confirm the veracity or falsity of the statements and materials being published in their websites…” he added. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)