MANILA – Malacañang denied filing sedition charges against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 other individuals for their alleged role in the release of the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos against President Rodrigo Duterte, his family and friends.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said it is fallacious to connect Atty. Lorenzo Gadon’s lawyering of self-confessed “Bikoy” Peter Joemel Advincula to the administration.
“We have nothing to do with this case, not at all. Absolutely nothing,” Panelo said. “Larry Gadon has nothing to do with us. Larry Gadon is a lawyer who takes client.”
“If he supported the President when he ran for the presidency you cannot take that away from him, pero ‘yung iko-connect mo ‘yung lawyering niya sa administrasyon definitely it’s fallacious,” he added.
Presidential Communications secretary Martin Andanar said the filing of the complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday was the initiative of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“Definitely walang kinalaman ang Palasyo diyan, ang executive branch. This is the own decision of the Philippine National Police. Wala kaming kinalaman diyan,” Andanar said.
“We have so much work to do. Marami pong ginagawa ang Presidente. He is fighting corruption left and right,” he added.
Advincula, who claimed to be “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, was named in the complaint both as a respondent and as a witness. He is represented by lawyer and losing senatorial candidate Gadon.
Advincula, in the videos, initially spread rumors against people close to the President – such as presidential children Paolo and Kitty Duterte, and Sen. Bong Go – for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
He later backtracked all his allegations, pointing to the Liberal Party as the “real culprit” behind the videos to “discredit” Duterte./PN
