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| Erin Tañada photo from abs-cbn (ctto) |
Manila, Philippines – Peter Joemel Advincula, also known as “Bikoy” cannot be a state witness in the sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 other individuals, said by a Liberal Party (LP) official.
According to LP Vice President Erin Tañada Advincula, Advicula or Bikoy cannot be given state protection through the Witness Protection Program because he was already convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
“We call on the Department of Justice to deny the application of Peter Joemel ‘Bikoy’ Advincula into the Witness Protection Program,” said Tañada, who also happens to be a lawyer.
Meanwhile, Atty. Larry Gadon,Advincula’s laywer, has submitted last Monday the application letter addressed to Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra, mentioning several threats on his client’s life and life of his family.
Advicula applied for witness protection in relation to Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s complaint of sedition against Robredo and other opposition figures over an alleged plot to remove President Duterte from power.
PNP-CIDG also named Advincula as a respondent in the sedition complaint.
If the DOJ admits Advincula to the Witness Protection Program, Tañada said it would “bastardize the mandate and essence of the government’s premier sanctuary for witnesses.”
“The WPP is not for a person who makes up grave accusations against the President and his family first, and then changes his mind and makes up sedition allegations against the Vice President and opposition figures next,” he stressed.
Tañada further added “How can we expect to believe that he will tell the truth after his made-up statements? The people’s money should not be spent on a notorious spinner of yarns,”
The former senatorial bet noted the charges were only meant to harass the administration critics. He then gave his support behind Robredo, who is their party chairperson.
The former senatorial bet noted the charges were only meant to harass the administration critics. He then gave his support behind Robredo, who is their party chairperson.
“We firmly maintain that the sedition charges against the Vice President and the other personalities are baseless and are being used only to harass, vilify, and intimidate the political opposition,” he added.
“We continue to stand by the Vice President as she faces these made-up charges for calling out the government on its mass murder of suspected drug users and its kowtowing to China,” the former Congressman added.
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