THE MAN who claimed to be the netizen Bikoy, in the videos alleging drug links in President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s family, would have been cited for contempt if the Senate had proceeded with its inquiry into this controversy, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said on Thursday.

“Hinog na hinog sana talaga si Bikoy for contempt kasi hindi na naman papalitan ‘yun eh,” Mr. Lacson said at a forum. (Bikoy would have been ripe for a contempt charge because he has not changed).

The senator added: “Kung halimbawang natuloy bukas ‘yung hearing at nandiyan siya, meron siyang sworn statement, meron siyang mga dokumento at nakapag-testify na siya under oath, and then papasok si Hutch and refute with his own document na nanggaling din kay Bikoy, hindi ba napaka-appropriate for contempt and marami pa tayong malalaman.” (Had we pushed through with the hearing, we would have heard his sworn statement, have his documents, and have him testify under oath, which Hutch will then refute with documents Bikoy himself gave, then we’d have an appropriate case for contempt. We might even learn new things).

Mr. Lacson, who heads the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said it is up to the Executive to pursue charges against Peter Joemel A. Advincula, who claimed to be “Bikoy” in a news conference early this week.

“‘Yung effort dapat manggaling sa executive branch dahil ang binabanatan du’n ay members of the First Family and some other personality (members of the First Family were being attacked). We should leave it to the DoJ (Department of Justice), the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), the PNP (Philippine National Police) to find out kung sino nasa likod ni Bikoy (who’s behind Bikoy),” Mr. Lacson said.

But Mr. Duterte, speaking at a campaign rally in Bohol on Wednesday night, said, “They released black propaganda that included my daughter. I’m not interested to file cases.” — C.A. Tadalan, A.L. Balinbin

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