By Jeffrey Damicog
Vice President Leni Robredo, despite being an impeachable official, will still undergo preliminary investigation before the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the criminal complaint filed against her and her co-respondents concerning the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos, said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “Without meaning to pre-empt the investigating panel, the VP's removability from office only by impeachment has no bearing on the issue of possible criminal liability,” the Secretary explained. A panel of prosecutors will be selected to conduct the preliminary investigation to determine probable cause if anyone of the respondents should be charged in court. “The DOJ will resolve the criminal complaint as against the VP, as well as against all other respondents, on the basis of the evidence presented and no other,” assured Guevarra. In the event probable cause has been found to indict her, Guevarra said she can be included as an accused depending on whether she still vice president or not. “If she gets indicted, there’s no question that she could be prosecuted after her tenure as VP. But during her tenure? Pag-aralan muna natin (I will have to study that first),” he said. The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed the complaint before the DOJ on Thursday (July 18) and named as respondents 35 persons, including Robredo. The “Ang Totoong Narcolist” features Peter Joelmel Advincula alias Bikoy who accused a number of personalities including family members of President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade. Though Advincula has been named as one of the respondents, the PNP-CIDG intends to use him as a witness and has used his testimony in the complaint. DOJ spokesman Undersecretary Markk Perete earlier explained that Advincula indicated in his sworn statement that the viral videos were part of the respondents’ plans under “Project Sodoma.” “Project Sodoma allegedly sought to publicly discredit President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and destabilize his government by implicating him, his family and other government officials in drug syndicates,” Perete stated. “The Project, planned as early as August 2018, likewise sought to discredit candidates Hugpong ng Pagbabago while at the same time propping up those from the opposition Otso Diretso,” he added. READ MORE: DOJ panel formed to conduct preliminary probe on ‘Bikoy’ video raps
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “Without meaning to pre-empt the investigating panel, the VP's removability from office only by impeachment has no bearing on the issue of possible criminal liability,” the Secretary explained. A panel of prosecutors will be selected to conduct the preliminary investigation to determine probable cause if anyone of the respondents should be charged in court. “The DOJ will resolve the criminal complaint as against the VP, as well as against all other respondents, on the basis of the evidence presented and no other,” assured Guevarra. In the event probable cause has been found to indict her, Guevarra said she can be included as an accused depending on whether she still vice president or not. “If she gets indicted, there’s no question that she could be prosecuted after her tenure as VP. But during her tenure? Pag-aralan muna natin (I will have to study that first),” he said. The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed the complaint before the DOJ on Thursday (July 18) and named as respondents 35 persons, including Robredo. The “Ang Totoong Narcolist” features Peter Joelmel Advincula alias Bikoy who accused a number of personalities including family members of President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade. Though Advincula has been named as one of the respondents, the PNP-CIDG intends to use him as a witness and has used his testimony in the complaint. DOJ spokesman Undersecretary Markk Perete earlier explained that Advincula indicated in his sworn statement that the viral videos were part of the respondents’ plans under “Project Sodoma.” “Project Sodoma allegedly sought to publicly discredit President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and destabilize his government by implicating him, his family and other government officials in drug syndicates,” Perete stated. “The Project, planned as early as August 2018, likewise sought to discredit candidates Hugpong ng Pagbabago while at the same time propping up those from the opposition Otso Diretso,” he added. READ MORE: DOJ panel formed to conduct preliminary probe on ‘Bikoy’ video raps