DOJ to rule on Robredo’s sedition raps in 2 weeks

MANILA, Philippines — The resolution on the sedition case against Vice President Leni Robredo will be out in two weeks, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.

“I was informed that case was submitted for resolution. Maybe in a week or two, the resolution will come out,” Guevarra said in an interview on the sidelines of the celebration of the 83rd anniversary of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

He stressed the resolution may still be appealed and won’t affect Robredo’s job as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

“But in any event, whatever resolution will come out will not be final because it will be subject to appeal. So, that will not in any way affect the designation of Vice President Robredo as co-chairman of ICAD,” Guevarra said.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has filed charges of inciting to sedition against Robredo and several other prominent personalities, including lawyers and members of the clergy, for their allegedly conniving to discredit and destabilize the Duterte administration.

In its letter-complaint, the PNP-CIDG recommended charges of inciting to sedition, cyber libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice against Robredo and the others.

Named as witness is Peter Joemel Advincula, the self-confessed “Bikoy,” the hooded figure in the viral “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, which tagged some family members of President Duterte for involvement in illegal drug activities. Advincula later withdrew his allegations.

Also named respondents aside from Robredo are Senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Otso Diretso candidates Gary Alejano, Florin Hilbay, Romulo Macalintal, Jose Manuel Diokno, Paolo Benigno Aquino, Samira Gutoc-Tomawis and Lorenzo Tañada III.

Catholic prelate Pablo Virgilio David, Bishops Socrates Villegas, Teodoro Bacani and Honesto Ongtico, Bro. Armin Luistro, and Fr. Robert Reyes and Albert Alejo were included in the charge sheet.

The  other respondents are former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, incumbent IBP president Egon Cayosa, lawyers Minerva Ambrosio, Theodore Te, Serafin Salvador and Philip Sawali.

The sworn statement of Advincula details his supposed meetings with the respondents to plot the so-called “Project Sodoma.” 

It was allegedly planned as early as August last year to derail the senatorial bid of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidates and improve the election chances of opposition bets.

The supposed meeting, according to Advincula, was held in the Jesuit Communication Building at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

Advincula first surfaced at the office of the IBP on May 6 to ask for legal assistance in filing charges against members of the syndicate to which he claimed to belong.

But later that month, Advincula surrendered to the PNP over estafa charges and linked the Liberal Party to Project Sodoma.