Issue of credibility
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 29 May 2019 16:30:29 +0000
WHISTLEBLOWER Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy” surprised everyone when he jumped to the other side of the fence and blamed the opposition for the series of videos he came out with on social media, accusing President Duterte’s family of allegedly receiving payoffs from drug syndicates.
Bikoy claimed that he was offered P500,000 by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and members of the Liberal Party (LP) to appear as the hooded figure in the anti-Duterte videos.
Trillanes, the LP, and some personalities from the opposition have already denied Advincula’s claim.
It was a far cry from Bikoy’s stern denial earlier of having any links to any particular candidate, political party, or the Otso Diretso. He also denied knowing Trillanes or any personality tagged by Malacañang of having any participation in the alleged plot to topple the government.
The videos tagged as the “Totoong Narco-List” revealed that drug money was supposedly funneled into the bank accounts of the President’s son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, his son-in-law Attorney Manases Carpio, and former aide Christopher “Bong” Go.
The videos claimed there were drug syndicates in Davao and Bicol linked to a Chinese cartel in Hong Kong. Talks about dragon tattoos that were allegedly on the backs of the personalities concerned together with codes necessary for the drug transactions arose.
Duterte earlier said that Trillanes was behind the production of the videos along with the Magdalo Group and the opposition’s Otso Diretso senatorial slate. He also believed then that Advincula was a soldier allied with Trillanes.
In 2016, Bikoy also attempted to link officials of the then outgoing administration of President Noynoy Aquino to the illegal drug trade.
It appears that Advincula cares little for the word credibility, which is synonymous with integrity or being worthy of trust by one’s fellow man. However, what is a man’s worth in this world if others cannot trust him?
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Trillanes and the opposition may suffer consequences based on Advincula’s sudden turnaround if officials from the administration should decide to take action.
It could be the beginning of the battle for supremacy between administration and opposition officials on their way to the presidential election in 2022.
Moreover, Trillanes should not be surprised if he finds himself incarcerated once more if the administration gives weight to Advincula’s sudden revelation and change of heart.
Oppositionists should be extra careful in their actions at this point, lest they find themselves the target of the administration and fall one by one.
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