‘Very possible’ for Rodel Jayme to be considered as state witness —NBI

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it was "very possible" for it to move for the consideration as state witness of the website administrator they arrested for allegedly sharing the "Bikoy" videos.

Rodel Jayme, the 27-year-old webmaster, said he is ready to become state witness as he pledged cooperation with authorities in identifying the persons behind the videos tagging members of the First Family in the illegal drug trade.

"That's very possible," NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said when asked if the bureau may consider Jayme as a state witness.

"That's why if you looked at the strategy of the NBI, we have to file a case against him because later on if we intend to consider him as a state witness, he should be charged first," he said.

A person charged in court may be discharged as a state witness under a certain set of requirements. As of this posting, however, the DOJ has not said if its prosecutors have already resolved the NBI's inciting to sedition complaint against Jayme.

The resolution of the complaint will show whether or not Jayme will be charged in court.

The "Ang Totoong Narcolist" videos feature a hooded man identified as "Bikoy," who claims to be a former member of a drug syndicate. Jayme and "Bikoy" are not necessarily the same person, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.

No hand

Jayme told reporters on Friday that he did not have a hand in the production and uploading of the video series tagging members of the First Family in the illegal drug trade.

He said he merely created the Metro Balita website upon the request of one "Maru Nguyen," whom he described as a friend and fellow supporter of the Liberal Party in the 2016 elections.

He claimed he did not know if the persons behind Nguyen were "big" or influential people, but knew they were "fellow supporters" of the former ruling party. 

He said Nguyen had told him the site would only be used to post the achievements of the candidates she had backed. He added he did not access the site again.

Earlier, he said he felt "betrayed" by the uploading of the "Ang Totoong Narcolist" videos on the website.

The names "Maru Nguyen" and "Maru Xie" figured in the NBI's complaint against Jayme. Upon retrieving Facebook conversations between the website administrator and Nguyen, the NBI said it saw several messages "related to the metrobalita.net website and the Bikoy video series."

In one such chat, Nguyen allegedly told Jayme "Baka kausapin ka ng Magdalo," and named one "Filmore," a supposed Magdalo member. When asked, Jayme said he did not know "Filmore."

Justifying its charge for inciting to sedition, the NBI said in its complaint that the retrieved conversations show a "continuity" of efforts to "conduct scurrilous libelous attacks against the government."

During the press conference, Lavin said a "secondary examination" of Jayme's electronic devices may reveal "deleted messages" that may offer more details to help their investigation.

The NBI official said the "Bikoy" videos were "blown out of proportion" not only because the First Family was being involved, but because its context was to "sow hatred against duly constituted authorities."

Hiding

Jayme said he was told to go into hiding until after the May 13 elections had passed. Nguyen offered financial help from a group, he said.

However, he said he did not hide and instead voluntarily went with NBI agents who searched his residence last April 30 because he knew he was "clean."

He said he had distanced himself from politics.

A high school graduate who said he cannot presently afford a lawyer, Jayme said he will cooperate with the NBI. He feels "safe" in the bureau's custody, he said. —LDF, GMA News