Lacson urges 'Bikoy' to come out, validate claims, present evidence

There is no compelling reason for the Senate to investigate the accusations of "Bikoy" against the First family as the accuser has yet to come out in public and substantiate his allegations, Senator Panfilo Lacson said over the weekend.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee, on Sunday said Bikoy (the hooded man in the controversial videos) must first come out and present evidence that the first family is indeed involved in illegal drug trade.

"Mahirap magtanong sa video. Hindi sasagot ang video. Kung maiharap si Bikoy, ma-identify kung sino, at padala namin ng invitation o subpoena, at humarap siya roon, tatanong namin si Bikoy 'Anong basehan ng akusasyon mo?" he said in an interview aired on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Kung may maipapakita siya, puwede kaming mag-rekomenda sa level namin sa Senado by way of a committee report, na file-an ng kaso maski member ng first family, pero dapat may basehan. May basis in law, may basis ang ebidensya na sinasabi ko kanina," elaborated Lacson.

Just last week, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a certain Rodel Jayme, for his supposed connection to the on who uploaded of controversial video of a certain Bikoy entitled “Ang Totoong Narcolist" that linked the Dutertes to illegal drug trade.

In the videos, Bikoy, who claimed to be a former member of a drug syndicate, alleged that members of the First family are involved in or have benefited from illegal drug trade.

"Alam mo, seryosong seryoso ang pag-akusa. Mismong first family involved sa illegal drugs. Maski hindi utusan ng Malacañang ang DOJ at ang NBI o PNP, incumbent na yan, parang obligasyon na nila yan na tingnan mabuti," said Lacson.

"Ang masama, kung may basehan at saka sila titigil sila sa pag-imbestiga yan ang masama," he added.

Looking ahead, Lacson said it would not really matter if Bikoy is part of the opposition or has issues against the first family, as long as his claims are substantiated.

"It doesn’t matter kung opposition o galit sa First family. Ang pagbabasehan natin, ano ba ang ebidensya, ano ang maipapakita na pruweba na may basehan para magsagawa ng investigation," Lacson said.

"It doesn’t matter saan nanggaling ang akusasyon. Ang mas importante ang sustansya ng akusasyon," Lacson added. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News