Peter Advincula, the self-professed star of the viral video series “Ang Totoong Narco List” (“The Real Narco List”), posted bail today at the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court in connection with the sedition case filed by the government against him and several opposition figures.
Advincula paid PHP10,000 (US$197) for his temporary liberty, and was accompanied by lawyer Larry Gadon, a controversial figure best known for his support of the Marcos family and President Rodrigo Duterte. Gadon said that his client was willing to become a state witness, GMA News reports.
Two other respondents, Fr. Albert Alejo and Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, also posted bail on Friday last week. The alleged ringleader of the purported conspiracy to commit sedition, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, is overseas and will return to the Philippines next week to deal with the case, CNN Philippines reports. It’s unclear if the other seven respondents in the case, including marketing boss Yoly Villanueva-Ong, have also posted bail.
Read: Justice Dept indicts former Senator Trillanes and 10 others for sedition over ‘narco list’
The “Narco List” video first appeared on YouTube in April 2019. In it, a hooded figure named “Bikoy,” who claimed to be a former drug syndicate member, alleged that the president’s son, Congressman Paolo Duterte; his close confidant, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go; and his son-in-law, Manases Carpio, received millions from the illegal drug trade.
Shortly after the videos’ release, Advincula appeared in public and claimed to be the real-life Bikoy. At first, he stood by the allegations made in the video but later changed his tune, claiming they were part of an elaborate plot masterminded by Trillanes and others to destroy President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to the Revised Penal Code, the act of conspiring to commit sedition is punishable by up to four years and two months in prison and a fine of up to PHP2,000 (US$39.60).
The arraignment of all the accused will be on March 17 at 2pm.
Aside from this case, Trillanes has been charged with inciting to sedition, kidnapping, and libel, cases observers believe are connected with the former senator’s fierce criticism of the president. He has also been charged for leading the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege in Makati — a protest against the alleged widespread corruption during President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s tenure — despite having been granted amnesty in the case by the previous administration, an amnesty Duterte revoked.
