Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to order the Philippine National Police (PNP) to present “other evidence” in its sedition complaint.
Robredo’s camp also asked the DOJ to defer the filing of her defense, through a counter-affidavit, while waiting for the PNP to present other evidence.
Robredo, represented by lawyer Marlon Manuel, filed on Thursday a Motion for Production and Copying of Evidence before the DOJ.
In the motion, Robredo’s counsel noted that she is “deprived of the right to adequately respond to the accusations against her,” as the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has “deliberately withheld alleged evidence” aside from the testimony of Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who claims to be “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
“Hinihingi namin sa DOJ na utusan ang CIDG na ilabas iyong sinasabi pa nila na ebidensya at mga testigo na binabanggit nila doon sa referral complaint na mayroon pa silang hawak,” Manuel told reporters in an interview.
The motion was filed a day before the first preliminary investigation hearing on the complaint. The results of the investigation will determine whether the case would be filed in court for trial.
The PNP-CIDG filed sedition and other complaints against Robredo and 35 other individuals including incumbent and former senators and priests after they were tagged in the release of the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
READ: Sedition case filed vs Robredo, 35 others over ‘Bikoy’ videos
“It is glaring from the Sinumpaang Salaysay of respondent Advincula, however, that aside from a bare and unsubstantiated allegation of the purported presence of respondent in an alleged meeting on March 4, 2019 (which is false), and a profile picture of respondent, there is neither allegation nor proof of respondent’s participation in the alleged crimes charged,” the motion stated. /jpv