MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed doubt over the identity of the man claiming to be "Bikoy" in a series of videos called “Ang Totoong Narcolist” which tagged the family and allies of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in the illegal drug trade.
"It's not that we are discrediting Bikoy. Number one, we really can't say if he who surfaced yesterday (Monday) is the true Bikoy. Remember, he showed himself (in a mask). We cannot really sure if it is really him. That's what he has been saying but whether he really is Bikoy or not must be validated and confirmed. We are not experts to determine whether the voice of Bikoy in the video and his voice are that of one person,” Albayalde told reporters on the sidelines of the launching of the National Election Monitoring Action Center in Camp Crame.
He also said that based on PNP’s profiling of Advincula, he was convicted of large-scale estafa and was sentenced to six years imprisonment and also has a standing estafa case filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“Actually, it's 10 years (imprisonment), if I am not mistaken, but it was shortened because of good behavior,” he explained.
He said that Advincula might have used his background as a former seminarian to deceive people.
“It seems he really is good in duping people. He is good in talking to people. You could just imagine you will be charged for large-scale recruitment. It only means he deceived a lot of people. We found out he is a former seminarian so we think this is what he is using to deceive these people,” Albayalde added.
The PNP chief, however, said they have yet to assess whether Advincula needs security protection due to supposed threats to his life, adding that they are also determining whether he has any connection to the illegal drug trade.
“This is part of investigation. He may have previously released information which we are not aware of. He might also be giving information to whoever,” Albayalde said.
Advincula surfaced a few days after the NBI arrested Rodel Jayme, a freelance website developer, in connection with the "Bikoy" videos.
Jayme denied any link with the opposition senatorial slate, Otso Diretso, or any media organization or lawyers' groups named in the “Oust Duterte” matrix. (PNA)
