How in the world did an ex-con manage to convince members of mainstream media to go to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) office to listen to him? Obviously someone influential from the Opposition contacted the media for him. The IBP office has security so someone higher up allowed the whole drama to unfold.
This “Bikoy” saga is proof that poverty is not the main problem in Ph. The main problem is the padrino system. It’s quite possible that powerful people like members of the IBP are in cahoots with members of the Opposition in promoting chaos in the country.
The whole scam has since unraveled as the truth about Peter Joemel Advincula’s crooked past slowly emerged thanks to the work of social media sleuths. Now there is a new term for being conned: na-bikoy.
Na-bikoy ang mga yellows. A con artist offered his services to play the part of a whistleblower who supposedly had information that could be used against the Duterte camp. Yellows weren’t aware he offered the same services and said he also had damning information about the Aquino camp.
The sad fact is, patronage politics or the padrino system is what’s ruining the country because it doesn’t level the playing field. Instead of uniting Filipinos, it promotes mistrust in Philippine society. This whole “Bikoy” saga has added to the damage to our society at so many levels.