By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
CALAMBA, Laguna -- The allegations of a man named "Bikoy" sounds familiar to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
Sotto bared receiving between 2014 to 2015 almost the same information shared by "Bikoy", the anonymous hooded man featured in the viral "Ang Totoong Narco List" video series that linked President Duterte's family and allies to the illegal drug trade.
On Monday, “Bikoy” surfaced and identified himself as Peter Joemel Advincula. He sought the help of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in a bid to pursue charges against those he named in the controversial video.
During a press briefing here, the Senate leader said his office received years ago a similar report from someone with the "same family name."
But the report, instead, implicated officials of the previous administration specifically, former President Benigno Aquino II, former Vice President Jejomar
Binay and "some officials in Bicol" as being involved in the illegal drug trade.
Sotto did not elaborate on the supposed drug links of those who were named but said the informant also provided documents, among them "bank accounts" to support his claim.
Sotto’s staff reportedly investigated the allegations but were not convinced with the information provided by the accuser.
"Medyo ligaw-ligaw ang sinasabi," Sotto told reporters, recalling advice from his staff not to entertain the claim.
Sotto said he was unsure if Advincula was the same person who sought help from his office since they did not meet personally.
In the "Ang Totoong Narco List" videos, Advincula claimed that Presidential son former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, lawyer Maneses Carpio, the husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte; former special assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go; and even President Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avanceña, belong to a drug syndicate.
Showing alleged bank transactions, the persons Advincula mentioned supposedly received kickbacks from the drug trade.
President Duterte denied the accusations.
Sotto maintained there should be enough evidence to Bikoy's claims before the Senate acts on it.
"Iimbestigahan namin kung mayroong value 'yong dapat imbestigahan. Kung may dokumento na tama, or mayroong proof. Kasi kung hindi, hindi naman pwedeng ang Senado, basta-basta na lang papatol dahil lumabas sa Facebook," the Senate President said.