Robredo camp debunks links anew to ‘Bikoy’ video uploader
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 03 May 2019 07:03:03 +0000
THE camp of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo reiterated anew that the vice president was not involved in the release of a series of videos linking President Rodrigo Duterte’s family to the illegal drug trade.
After the arrest early this week of one Rodel Jayme, the alleged uploader of the videos that featured a hooded man who called himself “Bikoy,” social media photos of Jayme with Robredo and other 2016 candidates identified with the Liberal Party or so-called “yellows” surfaced. Yellow is the color that has been identified with the opposition.
Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, accused the vice president’s detractors of mounting a smear campaign and doused rumors that Jayme had worked for her.
“Malinaw na paninira na namang ito. Ayon sa kwentong ipinipilit ibenta kasabay ng photo, si VP Leni daw ang nasa likod ng pagkilos nitong si Jayme. Para sa kalinawan ng lahat: walang ‘Rodel Jayme’ na nagtatrabaho para sa OVP o kay VP Leni,” Gutierrez said in a statement on Friday.
(This is clearly another move to besmirch her name. According to circulating stories alongside the photos, VP Leni was allegedly behind Jayme’s actions. For everyone’s information: there is no ‘Rodel Jayme’ working for the OVP or for VP Leni.)
Gutierrez added that Jayme may have been seen in photos with Robredo as her supporter in the vice presidential campaign in 2016.
“Kung totoo man na siya nga ang nasa photo kasama ng Bise Presidente, siya ay isa sa libu-libong naging supporter noong kampanya ng 2016 na bumibisita sa opisina at nagpakuha ng picture kasama si VP Leni,” he said.
(If it were true that he was the one in the photo with the Vice President, he could be among the thousands of supporters in her campaign in 2016 who were allowed to visit her in the office and take photos with her.)
Robredo previously said in an interview that if Bikoy was real, he may be considered a whistleblower and should be protected while his claims were being verified.
Otso Diretso candidate and human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno added that Jayme should undergo fair trial and investigation on the issue.
“Korte Suprema na ang nagsabi na hindi pwedeng parusahan ang isang tao dahil sa simpleng pag-share lang…kung dadaan sa tamang proseso, titingnan ng korte ang mga video ni Bikoy at kikilatisin kung katotohanan ang mga pinapakita diyan,” Diokno said.
(The Supreme Court ruled that a person cannot be punished for simply sharing a video…if proper process will be observed, the court should examine the authenticity of Bikoy’s videos.)
Jayme was taken into custody by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after authorities reportedly found computer evidence that linked him to the uploading of a series of videos titled “Ang Totoong Narcolist” (The Real Narco List).
He is facing an inciting to sedition charge for “scurrilous attacks against the government,” the NBI said.
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