PNP welcomes Trillanes’ evidence against ‘Bikoy’

PNP spokesperson Police Col. Bernard Banac. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it welcomes the evidence presented by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to disprove the claims of Peter Joemel Advincula alias Bikoy that there was a plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Lahat po ng karagdagang ebidensya (All additional evidence), of course we welcome all these available evidence and resources to aid ‘yung (the) investigation on the issue and the allegations of Mr. Advincula,” said PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

READ: Trillanes bares evidence to debunk ‘Bikoy’ oust plot vs Duterte

Banac said the public should be reminded that even Bikoy is being investigated, his sworn statements and evidence presented to the police are under validation.

“Malalaman pa natin kung siya ay suspect or witness. Hindi pa siya off the hook (We have yet to know if he is a suspect or a witness. He’s not yet off the hook),” Banac said of Advincula, who remains at Camp Crame for protective custody as of posting time.

Earlier, in a surprise press briefing at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Advincula surfaced and claimed he was “Bikoy” or the hooded man in the narcolist videos linking the family and allies of President Rodrigo Duterte to a drug syndicate. 

He later retracted his claims at a press conference hosted by the PNP, and said the opposition led by Trillanes orchestrated the videos as part of the plan to unseat Duterte. He said all his allegations in the videos were scripted.

But according to Trillanes, it was Advincula who volunteered his information to the priests, as shown in the alleged text messages between “Bikoy” and the clergies, which the senator had presented to reporters.

Banac, however, noted that it should be the camp of Trillanes who will voluntarily hand over to the police the evidence presented against Advincula. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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