A MANILA court has found Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy, guilty of perjury in relation to his claims against three lawyers, linking them to a plot to oust former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Perjury has been defined as giving of false testimony under oath.

In a decision issued by Judge Karla Funtila-Abugan of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 17 that was promulgated on May 24, Advincula was sentenced to be imprisoned from three months and one day to one year and one day.

“Wherefore, premises considered, the Court finds accused Peter Joemel Advincula guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of perjury in Criminal Case No. M-MNL-21-00230-CR,” read the order.

The charges against Advincula were filed by Free Legal Assistance Group (Flag) lawyers Chel Diokno, Erin Tañada and Theodore Te.

Advincula was the person in a series of viral videos titled “Ang Totoong Narco-list” and released in 2019 where he linked Duterte and members of his family to the illegal drug trade.

He recanted his statements in the video and said it was part of a “Project Sodoma” led by Te, Tañada, Diokno and several members of the opposition, which aimed to unseat Duterte.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) used Advincula to file sedition cases against several opposition personalities, including former Vice President Leni Robredo and the three lawyers.

Advincula failed to prove his claims against Robredo, the three lawyers and several others, resulting in the filing of perjury cases against him by the Department of Justice.

The sedition charges against Robredo and the three lawyers were dropped. (SunStar Philippines)