DOJ eyes ‘Bikoy’ as witness vs Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy, as state witness against former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and several others in connection with the conspiracy to commit sedition case they are facing over an alleged ouster plot against President Duterte. 

“We are studying whether or not Advincula can be taken as a witness. We will review the evidence presented by the prosecutors against him. Remember, he is among the respondents in the case,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas told reporters yesterday.

Torrevillas said Advincula is the lone witness of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which filed the complaint against Trillanes and the other respondents.

On Monday, government prosecutors indicted Trillanes along with Advincula, dismissed police official Eduardo Acierto, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva and Jonnel Sangalang for conspiracy to commit sedition under Article 141 of the Revised Penal Code.

The DOJ, however, cleared Vice President Leni Robredo, Sens. Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros and other opposition figures of sedition.