By Raymund Antonio
After the arrest of the uploader of the “Real Narco List” videos, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday the government should look into turning “Bikoy” as its witness.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(Photo by OVP / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Di ba dapat, kasi parang whistleblower din siya, hindi ba dapat bigyan ng proteksyon para malaman kung totoo o hindi ang sinasabi,” she said in a media interview in Donsol, Sorsogon.
(He is like a whistleblower, right? He should be given protection so we will know if he is telling the truth or not.)
The Vice President wants an investigation into the allegations of Bikoy linking President Duterte’s family and his allies in the illegal drug trade since there is “no way” to prove his claims.
“Mayroon siyang mga sinasabing mga bank accounts. Bakit hindi tingnan kung totoo?” she asked.
(He was saying something about bank accounts. Why don’t we look into it to verify if it is true?)
“Kasi ano lang naman eh, madali naman i-check iyon. Kung hindi totoo, eh ‘di gustong sabihin, nagsisinungaling iyong Bikoy,” Robredo, who is the leader of the opposition, said.
(Because it will be easy to check that. If it is not true, this means Bikoy is lying.)
The Vice President made the remarks after the National Bureau of Investigation arrested a person who uploaded the controversial videos online.
Authorities have already launched a manhunt for Bikoy, who claimed to be a former drug syndicate member.
Presidential son and former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte was tagged by Bikoy in the viral videos titled “Real Narco List” as among the recipients of payoffs from drug syndicates.
Apart from Paolo, the videos uploaded on YouTube also featured the President's common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and their 14-year-old daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte.
Robredo welcomed the arrest of the alleged uploader of the Bikoy videos, but she hoped those who upload fake news would also end up in jail.
“Malaking bagay iyon (That is a big thing),” she said. “Sana pantay iyong pag-treat sa lahat, ‘di ba? Lahat na nagsasabi ng kasinungalingan, eh ‘di arestuhin, panagutin.”
(I hope the treatment to everyone is equal, right? All those who tell lies should be arrested and held accountable.)