Witnesses, including ‘survivor,’ point to ‘Bikoy’ in killing of 3 politicians in Albay — cops

FILE Peter Joemel Advincula alias Bikoy

MANILA, Philippines — Peter Joemel Advincula, alias “Bikoy,” who became known for the infamous “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, was the one who reported the presence of dead bodies in his shop at Barangay Busay of Daraga town in Albay.

This was what local police said during a press conference streamed live on Facebook, after three local election candidates from Donsol, Sorsogon — Councilor Helen Garay, Kareen Averilla, 44, and Xavier Mirasol, 61 — were found dead in the ukay-ukay store (thrift shop) allegedly owned by Advincula.

Advincula is the primary suspect in the case.

According to Lt. Col. Bogard Arao, Daraga chief of police, Advincula did not know that a companion of the victims was already at the headquarters of the Police Regional Office (PRO-5) in Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City when he reported about the death of the politicians.

“And then, without knowing, dumating din ‘yong suspect, nagreport dito (Daraga) na sinasabi niya na pagbukas niya ng establishimento niya, na meron siyang nakitang tatlong (patay). So gano’n ang pangyayari, so kami bilang pulisya, pumunta kami agad,” Arao told reporters in Daraga.

“Patuloy ang ating investigation, follow-up investigation, para tignan natin kung sino talaga ang suspect.  So nandito naman ‘yong survivor, at least may survivor tayo. Merong mga witnesses doon sa mga tindahan, meron tayong mga CCTV footages,” he added.

Arao explained that according to a witness, Advincula invited Garay, who hails from the suspect’s hometown, to a meeting supposedly for a political activity in the area in support of the candidacy of a national election candidate.

The police officer did not name the candidate, but reports said Advincula claimed to be holding a meeting for coordinators supporting former senator Bongbong Marcos.

Garay then brought along three other candidates with her, but they failed to set a meeting last Wednesday — the day they arrived at Daraga.  The next day, Advincula fetched them one-by-one, before bringing the politicians to a certain area where the meeting would supposedly be held.

“So nagkita-kita raw sila, alas otso pa lang ng umaga, around 7 to 8, dinala raw sila doon sa Busay, do’n sa may access do’n papuntang Sorsogon. Ang ginawa nitong suspect natin, inisa-isa niya ang (hatid sa) bawat isa, na iniwan do’n […] para dalhin dito sa inuupahan niyang ukay-ukayan,” Arao relayed.

“And then dinala niya ngayon si Helen, ngayon sinundo naman ‘yong pangalawa, sinundo mga two hours daw ang pagitan, sinundo niya naman ‘yong pangalawa.  After, basta gano’n ang pagitan, after two hours na naman, ‘yong isang babae sinundo,” he added.

But the fourth politician who survived was already wary of what happened as it was getting dark in the area, where she had to wait. Arao said that the survivor had grown suspicious of Advincula.

According to the survivor’s statements, she tried to ask Advincula where the others were, but the latter gave several answers. After this, she asked her husband to fetch her, and they immediately went to Camp Ola.

“And then itong pang-apat, itong huli, medyo nagtataka na kasi inabot na siya ng halos gabi na. Nagtataka na, so ‘tong isa, no’ng sinundo siya, pumiglas, kasi (nagtanong) nasaan ‘yong kasama ko. Eh ang dami raw rason nitong suspect na medyo ano ‘kasi mahigpit daw ang security ng ating paligid’,” Arao said.

“Kasi hindi niya mapababa kasi hinahanap niya ‘yong tatlong kasama niya. Not knowingly, ‘yong asawa nitong survivor — kasi present siya, siya ‘yong nag-drive sa kanya — eh nag-aalala rin. Eh sa pagpupumiglas nitong last survivor, nakahingi ng tulong. ‘Yon ‘yong panahon niya na tinawagan niya ‘yong asawa niya, sinundo siya, at dumiretso sa Camp Ola,” he added.

Despite these details, Arao said that they could not yet ascribe a possible motive against Advincula as investigation is still underway.

Advincula is being held after several eyewitnesses claimed that he was seen at his rented space before the deaths of the three women were reported.

“Bikoy” gained infamy for being the hooded figure in the Ang Totoong Narcolist series which tagged President Rodrigo Duterte, his close allies, and even his children in the illegal drug trade.

Advincula however later on recanted his testimony, saying that his appearance was only part of the opposition’s alleged plan called Project Sodoma, which is a plot to oust Duterte in 2018 and 2019.

EDV