Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Thursday accused the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of withholding evidence in connection with the inciting to sedition complaint it had filed against her and other opposition personalities and Catholic clergymen.
Robredo’s lawyers filed a motion before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to require the CIDG to present the “other evidence” it claims to have, other than the affidavit of Peter Joemel Advincula, the ex-convict who claims he was used by the opposition and certain clergymen to produce the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video series that linked President Rodrigo Duterte to illegal drugs.
Robredo’s lawyers said she was “deprived of the right to adequately respond to the wild accusations against her,” given that the CIDG “deliberately withheld alleged evidence other than the sinumpaang salaysay (sworn statement)” of Advincula.
“It is glaring from the sinumpaang salaysay of respondent Advincula that aside from a bare and unsubstantiated allegation of the purported presence of respondent in an alleged meeting on March 4, 2019 (which is false), and a profile picture of respondent, there is neither allegation nor proof of respondent’s participation in the alleged crimes charged,” the motion stated.
“Assuming that such alleged ‘evidence’ exists, respondent moves that the Honorable Office direct complainants to produce such alleged evidence and allow respondent to make copies or copy the same. This would allow respondent to adequately and intelligently respond to the baseless and wild accusations against her in the present case,” it added.
The Robredo camp said the vice president would be present during the first hearing on the complaint set by the DOJ on Friday, August 9. (PressONE.PH)