(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, May 10, said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was behind the production of the “Bikoy” videos.
In a speech in Davao, Duterte said Magdalo and Otso Diretso also had a hand in the videos that figured the yellow-hooded person accusing members of Duterte’s family and others of being involved in illegal drug activities.
Duterte’s family has denied the allegations.
“Actually ‘yang Bikoy Bikoy, Magdalo ‘yan at Otso Diretso. Production ni Trillanes,” Duterte said.
Duterte’s statement is a reiteration of a previous Palace statement that said the opposition was behind “Bikoy” based on Duterte’s “intelligence information.”
According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, “there is a deliberate conspiracy” between these groups “to discredit this administration for purposes of this election.”
He added some media outfits were part of the plot to oust Duterte, as indicated in a matrix previously presented to Malacañang reporters.
Majority of those accused have denied the allegations.
A man who claimed to be “Bikoy,” Peter Joemel Advincula, has also surfaced recently, denying he had links to any political groups.
Advincula surfaced after authorities arrested Rodel Jayme, the alleged administrator of the Metro Balita website where the “Bikoy” videos were uploaded, and after authorities said, based on an analysis of Jayme’s devices, that Jayme had been conversing with a certain Filmore, a supposed member of Magdalo, in the supposed destabilization attempt.
A day after the supposed conversations were made public, Trillanes issued a statement lashing out at Justice Menardo Guevarra, urging him to focus on the allegations made by “Bikoy” and dismissed Col. Eduardo Acierto instead.
Acierto had accused Duterte of defending Michael Yang, who was allegedly linked to the illegal drug trade.