The Philippine National Police (PNP) will now search for “Bikoy,” the alias used by a man who appears in the viral YouTube video series Ang Totoong Narco List (The Real Narco List).
That’s what PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said today, warning that Bikoy could be committing cyber libel in his allegations that members of the Duterte family and their supporters are benefitting from the drug trade.
In an interview with reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Albayalde said, however, that no one has come forward to file a complaint against Bikoy.
“As of this time, no one has come to us to complain, but we will do the initiative to identify this person,” Rappler quoted him saying.
Albayalde also said that Bikoy shouldn’t use social media and instead present evidence to authorities to prove his allegations.
In previous episodes, Bikoy alleged that presidential son Paolo Duterte and son-in-law Manases Carpio, who is married to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, are receiving millions of pesos from the illegal drug trade. Bikoy also alleged that senatorial candidate and President Rodrigo Duterte’s longtime assistant Christopher “Bong” Go is also receiving payments from a drug syndicate.
The videos alleged that Paolo and Go have dragon tattoos on their backs, which supposedly prove that they have drug links. However, Albayalde said he doesn’t know any syndicates which use dragon tattoos as their identifier, reported The Philippine Daily Inquirer. He said that a lot of men have been inked with dragon images because the mythical creature signifies bravery.
“The virtue of a dragon [is bravery] so almost all of us would like to have a dragon tattoo, otherwise, it would be odd if you’ll ask for a tattoo of a lizard,” Albayalde said.
Last week, Go even went topless to prove to reporters that he doesn’t have any tattoos. However, Paolo remains adamant in his refusal to show his back.
The country’s police chief also said that the PNP is ready to file charges against the personalities whom Bikoy has accused, but if he can’t present evidence, he will be made liable for his claims.
“There’s [a] cyber libel [law] now. That’s part of the anti-cybercrime law,” Albayalde said.
Albayalde is convinced that the producers of the viral video have a political agenda because of the upcoming mid-term elections, reported Abante TNT.
Go is running for senator in this year’s elections while Paolo is running for congressman in the first district of Davao City.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sara said today that the viral videos are possibly targetting her and President Duterte and that they were a form of black propaganda.
She told ABS-CBN News: “All black propaganda and criticisms usually come out during election time. Mayor [Rodrigo] Duterte has been in politics since 1987, so this is nothing new.”
