THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has denied the request for free legal assistance of Peter Joemel Advincula, alias "Bikoy" of the "Ang Totoong Narcolist" series of videos.
The group said it "cannot be seen to be siding with or going against any candidate or political party".
“This decision was reached after a thorough evaluation of his application was conducted by the NCLA (National Center for Legal Aid),” the national organization of lawyers said in a statement on Wednesday, May 8.
“The NCLA has determined that Mr. Advincula may not be provided free legal assistance based on the standards provided for in the NCLA Manual of Operations in approving such requests. However, communications and documents submitted during consultation shall remain privileged and confidential,” it added.
Advincula, who claimed to be the hooded man "Bikoy" in the series of videos circulated on social media, sought IBP's legal assistance on May 6 in the filing of charges against certain individuals, including candidates for elective positions, because of their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Among the personalities whom Advincula tagged were presidential son Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, his brother-in-law Maneses Carpio and former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go.
In the videos, "Bikoy" claimed that he is a former staff of a drug syndicate that included the Duterte family members.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde, meanwhile, said they were still verifying Advincula's claim that he is "Bikoy".
Based on their initial background investigation on Advincula, Albayalde said they found that he was a former seminarian but was convicted of large scale illegal recruitment and has a standing case of estafa before the National Bureau of Investigation.
He said Advincula served his sentence for six years at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“Well number one mukhang magaling s’yang mang estafa at magsalita. You could just imagine you would be charged for large scale recruitment. Ibig sabihin andami n’yang naloko. Baka tunay na magaling syang magsalita and also we found out he is a former seminarian kaya baka ginagamit nya rin yun para maloko ‘yung tao,” said Albayalde.
“May background kami sa kanya doon sa Bilibid sinabi niya meron siyang inutangan na taong di pa niya binabayaran at kaya siya lumayas sa Bicol, napagalitan siya ng kapatid niya is because may tinakbo siyang pera from a beauty pageant contest at ngayon, based on our verification, meron pa pala siyang large-scale illegal recruitment case also in Baguio. Ibig sabihin, talagang may pagkaproblema ito pagdating sa pera. Notorious pagdating sa pera,” he added.
While Advincula was detained at the NBP in 2016, he was making up stories about being part of a drug syndicate that has a clandestine laboratory in Bicol.
He said policemen verified Advincula’s “stories”, which turned out to be negative.
”It just so happened na nung vinerify namin ang sinasabi niyang laboratoryo ay isang resort pala so this is how he lies at remember, bago siya nagbibigay ng information, he asks for money. Meron dito na nakapagbigay ng pera sa kanya. It's because that's part of the intelligence. Marunong siya magbenta ng information even so pati false information,” he said.
The top cop said even the quadrangle syndicate which Advincula claimed to have been a part off does not exist. (SunStar Philippines)