MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) will form a prosecution panel to handle the criminal complaints filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) represented by Police Lt. Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay in connection with the revelations made by Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy”.

In a statement Thursday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ “will form a panel of state prosecutors to hear the complaint and conduct the requisite preliminary investigation” on charges of sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal/obstruction of justice against at least 35 individuals including Vice President Leni Robredo.

Aside from Robredo, also named in the CIDG complaint were former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV; Jonnell P. Sangalang, Eduardo Acierto; Senators Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel and Leila de Lima, former IBP president Abdiel Fajardo, incumbent IBP president Egon Cayosa, former Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te, lawyers Minerva Ambrosio, Serafin Salvador and Philip Sawali.

Also named were senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, Paolo Benigno A. Aquino, Atty. Lorenzo “Erin” R. Tañada III, Gary Alejano, Florin Hilbay, Romulo Macalintal and Jose Manuel Diokno.

Likewise charged were Yolando Villanueva Ong, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Albert E. Alejo, Fr. Robert Reyes, Bro. Armin A. Luistro, Cubao Diocese Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco, retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr., Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David, former CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas, publicist Boom Enriquez, Vicente R. Romano III, Danilo Songco, film actor and activist Joel Saracho.

A certain alias “Sentrix” and “John Doe” were also named for their part in the so-called Project Sodoma which was hatched to discredit administration candidates and back opposition senatorial bets in the May 13 elections. (PNA)

By Benjamin Pulta/ PNA  July 19, 2019, 9:03 am