Manila court recalls arrest warrant vs. ‘Bikoy’

A Manila court on Monday lifted the arrest order issued against Peter Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula after he was able to justify his absence during his scheduled arraignment on July 21. 

Judge Karla Funtila-Abugan of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 17 granted the request to lift the arrest warrant of Advincula, who cited COVID-19 travel restrictions, bad weather, and his unvaccinated status as reasons for not traveling from Bicol to Manila to attend the hearing. 

Advincula told the court that he had no intention of evading his arraignment. 

Abugan also reinstated his previous bail bond, but warned of imposing sanctions should he fail to show up at his arraignment and the pre-trial conference on August 26. 

Advincula faces a perjury case filed by some members of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) whom he linked to an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019. 

He also claimed to be the narrator in a series of videos accusing Duterte's family of involvement in the illegal drug trade. —KG, GMA News