PNP denies hand in possible filing of impeach rap vs Leni

PNP spokesperson Police Col. Bernard Banac. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday it is not involved in the plan of possible filing of an impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo if she will be indicted for sedition and other criminal cases filed against her and 35 others.

PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac told reporters that the PNP — an apolitical agency — has no other intention in filing the cases against Robredo, opposition personalities, Catholic bishops, and other individuals in relation to the narcolist videos, but only to fulfill its mandate as a law enforcement agency.

“Walang kinalaman ang PNP o ano mang naging impluwensyang ito kung magkaroon man ng impeachment case laban sa ating opisyal [The PNP had no hand or any influence in the possible filing of an impeachment case against the official],” he said.

Lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon, counsel of Peter Joemel Advincula or “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” series, earlier said he might file an impeachment case against Robredo if she will be indicted for sedition and other cases.

READ: Bikoy’s lawyer mulling impeachment rap vs Robredo

Banac said the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group which filed the complaint may also finish sending on Friday the complete addresses of respondents to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which the agency had asked for the service of subpoena to those accused.

He also said the statements of Advincula alleging Robredo and other respondents as those behind the videos that linked allies and relatives of President Rodrigo Duterte to a drug syndicate were “deemed substantially accurate.”

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

But he added that investigation by the police will still continue even after the filing of the case to support the complaint already filed before the DOJ. /jpv