By Raymund Antonio
The number of Filipinos, here and abroad, signing the petition calling for the dismissal of the sedition charges against Vice President Leni Robredo increases by the day.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The online petition, which is titled #ProtectVPLeni, was signed by 13,690 supporters of Robredo on global petition platform Change.org as of 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24.
Team Pilipinas started the “solidarity” petition, which initially targets 15,000 signatures, to the Department of Justice.
Posted by a group of Robredo’s supporters, the petition asked Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra to dismiss the complaint based on the “bogus” allegations by a “questionable witness” named Peter Joemel Advincula.
Advincula was the hooded figure “Bikoy” in the viral videos, “The Real Narcolist,” which linked President Duterte’s family and allies to the illegal drug trade.
He claimed the opposition members were allegedly behind the controversial videos and it was part of a destabilization plot against the Chief Executive. Robredo already denied his allegations.
“As Filipino citizens who have a right and duty to protect our votes, we implore you to dismiss these charges as they are baseless and just another attempt to silence the opposition against the administration,” the petition said.
It also questioned why Advincula’s claim now has credibility after he turned against the opposition and linked them to the anti-Duterte videos.
“Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo quickly dismissed Bikoy’s credibility, given his involvements in previous controversies dating back to 2012. In Panelo’s words, Bikoy’s credibility is questionable because once ‘You lie in one, you line in all,’” it read.
“This is the same man now claiming to have worked with VP Leni in the alleged destabilization plot. It is appalling how suddenly, Bikoy’s words have credibility only because it is now against those who dissent against the administration,” the petition said.