Drilon, Kiko deny LP connived with 'Bikoy'

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon denied Thursday the allegations hurled by Peter Joemel Advincula or “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video narrator Bikoy in anti-Duterte videos.

“The Liberal Party had nothing to do with the so-called Bikoy video. We deny the accusations,” Drilon, LP vice chairman, said in a press statement.

He said that the Liberal Party connived with “an obviously professional con artist to topple the government is most absurd.”

“It is ridiculous on so many levels. It’s excruciating to have listened to all his lies,” he added.

Drilon urged the Philippine National Police to get to the bottom of the Bikoy issue and file the appropriate charges.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan wondered what issue could the administration be hiding with the re-surfacing of Advincula, as he denies the Liberal Party’s connection with him.

“Ano na naman kaya ang baho na tinatago na administrasyon kaya inilabas ang mga kasinungalingang ito?” Pangilinan said in a separate press statement.

Pangilinan has resigned as LP president but Vice President Leni Robredo, party chairperson, has yet to accept it.

The senator said Advincula will say anything against the opposition to save himself from the wrath of the Duterte administration whose family members and allies he earlier accused of connection with a drug syndicate.

“Kahit ano sasabihin ng testigo kahit kasinungalingan laban sa LP sa takot na masaktan ng administrasyon. Wala kaming ugnayan sa video at kay Bikoy. Kasinungalingan lahat ang mga paratang na yan. Gawa-gawa lang ng administrasyon,” he said.

Pangilinan said the LP is always being dragged into the ouster issue to divert the attention from the controversies involving the administration.

“Laging dinadamay ang LP sa mga ouster plot na gawa-gawa lang para pagtakpan ang mga palpak at kurakot sa administrasyon. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin mga drug lords at sindikato na nahuhuli o nakakukulong sa pagpuslit ng toneladang shabu sa BoC. Yan ba ang pinagtatakpan nila? Pekeng drug war? Yang mga sindikato ng droga ang dapat nilang habulin, hindi mga kritiko at mga nasa oposisyon,” he said.

“Kahit ang pagpatay kay Rizal aaminin ng testigo na yan sa takot sa maaring saktan siya o pamilya nya ng mga tauhan ng administrasyon na ito. Uulitin ko. Walang kinalaman ang LP sa Bikoy video. Kasinungalingan at gawa gawa lamang ang mga paratang na ito,” he added.

Advincula surrendered to the PNP and accused the Liberal Party and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, among others, of conniving to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. —LBG/RSJ, GMA News