By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Wednesday declined the request of Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy”for free legal assistance.
“The decision was reached after a thorough evaluation of his application was conducted by the NCLA (National Center for Legal Aid),” said IBP president Abdiel Elijah S. Fajardo in a statement.
He said the decision was made “based on the standards provided for in the NCLA Manual of Operations in approving such requests”.
“However, communications and documents submitted during consultation shall remain privileged and confidential,” Fajardo said.
The IBP leadership explained that since its mandate is to provide access to justice for the poor and the marginalized, it cannot be seen to be siding with or going against any candidate or political party.
Advincula had asked the IBP for free legal assistance and representation in the filing of charges against certain individuals, including candidates for elective positions, because of their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
“His application was duly processed just like any other request by the NCLA,” the IBP explained.
On Tuesday, the Davao City chapter of the IBP has criticized its national leadership’s decision to allow Bikoy to appear in a press conference at the IBP office in Ortigas instead of the proper law enforcement agency.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra urged Advincula to go to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to bare all and substantiate the details of his allegations.
Doubts have been cast on Advincula’s credibility as he had spent time behind bars for fraud as recently as 2013, and had once been on Naga City’s Most Wanted List with a number of pending cases.
The NBI, which is conducting an investigation earlier arrested Rodel Jayme, who confessed that he was paid PHP2,500 by contacts he worked with at the Liberal Party during the last presidential campaign to create a website, which was subsequently used to spread the professionaly crafted, albeit slanderous Bikoy video.
Prosecutors have charged Jayme with inciting to sedition before the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court.
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