Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo salutes to the statue of National Hero Jose Rizal during a wreath-laying ceremony at the 120th Independence Day celebration at Rizal Park in Manila on June 12, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
MANILA, Philippines — Liberal Party (LP) lawmakers at the House of Representatives have pledged to stand behind Vice President Leni Robredo after the Philippine National Police-Criminal Detection and Investigation Group (PNP-CIDG) filed a sedition case against her over the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
“Sa simula ng terminong ito, nanindigan na kami: Regardless of the context here in the House of Representatives, we will stand by our values and principles. We will stand firm behind the truth. This is one of those moments. We will defend the Vice President,” LP House members said in a statement on Friday.
The group issued this pronouncement despite their previous statement that they are considering to join the majority bloc in the 18th Congress.
READ: LP mulls joining House majority bloc; attends Romualdez-led caucus
READ: Kiko to LP House members: Let’s rally behind Leni
They slammed as “fictitious” the charges against Robredo, who is being linked to the six-part video series claiming that President Rodrigo Duterte’s family and close allies are involved in the illegal drug trade.
“The attacks and harassment against the Vice President is a red line for every member of the Party. Malinaw at unanimous ang paniniwala namin dito: The Vice President is our leader; the allegations are fictitious,” the legislators said.
READ: Sedition case filed vs Robredo, 35 others over ‘Bikoy’ videos
The LP congressmen also said the complaint against the Vice President will not benefit the Filipinos.
“Lahat po kami, sanay na sa panggigipit; ngunit lahat din kami, bukas makipagtrabaho sa kahit kanino kung ang magbebenepisyo ay ang taumbayan. Hindi magbebenipisyo ang taumbayan sa pagsusulong ng gawa-gawang mga kaso laban kay Bise Leni,” they pointed out.
PNP-CIDG on Thursday filed sedition, cyber libel, libel, and estafa complaints against Robredo and 35 other personalities over their alleged link in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be the “Bikoy” in the videos, was among the respondents in the complaints.
Advincula in his testimony claimed the video series was purportedly part of the opposition’s “Project Sodoma” which seeks to discredit Duterte and destabilize the government. /kga
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