Life just got harder for Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who claims that he’s the real-life former drug syndicate member “Bikoy” featured in the viral video series Ang Totoong Narco List (The Real Narco List).
That’s because the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) announced today that it won’t be providing him with free legal aid.
He asked for their help in charging personalities close to President Rodrigo Duterte who are allegedly benefitting from the drug trade.
“Bikoy” is the alias used by a hooded man who appeared in the viral Ang Totoong Narco List (The Real Narco List) videos. He accused former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, former presidential aide and senatorial candidate Christopher “Bong” Go, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s husband Manases Carpio of benefitting from the drug trade.
Advincula appeared at the IBP in Pasig City on Monday, introducing himself as the real-life Bikoy. He also asked IBP members for legal aid because he wanted to file charges against Go, Carpio, and Paolo.
Integrated Bar of the Philippines National Center for Legal Aid declines Peter Joemel Advincula’s request for legal assistance. Advincula had claimed to be Bikoy in the controversial videos that circulated online. | via @mikenavallo pic.twitter.com/hRn8wXYgau
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 8, 2019
The IBP provides free legal aid to people who cannot afford it but their allegations need to have basis, IBP’s incoming president Domingo Cayosa told ABS-CBN News.
Free legal aid is given to clients through the IBP’s National Center for Legal Aid (NCLA).
“The Integrated Bar of the Philippines through its National Center for Legal Aid (NCLA) is declining the request for free legal assistance made by Peter Joemel Advincula (Bikoy). This decision was reached after a thorough evaluation of his application was conducted by the NCLA,” the IBP’s current president Abdiel Dan Fajardo said in his statement.
“His application was duly processed just like any other request received by the NCLA. The NCLA has determined that Mr. Advincula may not be provided free legal assistance based on the standards provided for in the NCLA Manual of Operations in approving such requests,” he added.
Fajardo also said that the IBP cannot be seen siding with any candidate or political party. However, Advincula has denied that he is connected with the opposition Liberal Party, BusinessWorld reported.
After Advincula appeared on Monday, he was attacked by IBP’s chapter in Davao City, President Duterte’s hometown. The chapter said Advincula’s “storyline is polluted,” and that they will not tolerate any statements from IBP’s national leadership that could politicize the organization.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde told the media that Advincula was convicted of illegal recruitment, for which he served six years behind bars, CNN Philippines reported. Albayalde also said that Advincula has a pending swindling case before the National Bureau of Investigation.
Albayalde said that if Advincula truly is Bikoy, he could be charged with cyber libel.
President Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo said yesterday that the PNP has discovered something big in connection with Advincula, but he refused to divulge what this information was.
Reader Interactions