'Bikoy' video uploader deserves due process: Chel Diokno

LOOK: Otso Diretso candidate Chel Diokno, volunteer lawyers, and paralegals hold a legal mission for families of alleged EJK victims at Baclaran church. | via @adrianayalin #Halalan2019 pic.twitter.com/Yal5vMx5Sm

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 2, 2019

MANILA -- A man who was arrested for allegedly uploading a series of videos tagging President Rodrigo Duterte's family in the narcotics trade should be accorded due process, said opposition senatorial candidate Chel Diokno on Thursday.

The Youtube clips titled "Totoong Narco-list" claimed drug money was funneled into the bank accounts of Duterte's son former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, son-in-law Manases Carpio, and former aide Christopher "Bong" Go.

The videos' alleged uploader was served an arrest warrant earlier Thursday, said the justice department.

• Man who uploaded 'Bikoy' videos arrested; Duterte accuser at large

“Kahit sino naman na aarestuhin ng ating pamahalaan ay talagang may karapatan at sana naman kahit sino man 'yun ay igalang ang karapatan ng sinasabi nilang hinuli nila,” said Diokno, who chairs the Free Legal Assistance Group.

(Whoever our government arrests has rights and whoever it is, they should respect the right of someone they arrested.)

“Bigyan [dapat] siya ng inquest at mga normal na proseso ng nasa batas natin,” Diokno said.

(He should be given a chance to go through inquest proceedings and normal processes under our law.)

• Man who uploaded 'Bikoy' videos arrested; Duterte accuser at large

Diokno made the remark at a legal mission at the Baclaran Church in Parañaque with lawyers and paralegals for families who lost loved ones in the Duterte administration's anti-narcotics crackdown.

“It is very importand na ma-document man lang natin ang mga pangyayari. Pagdating ng araw na gusto na ng mga kamag-anak ang paghahanda ng kaso, at least nakahanda,” Diokno said.

(It is very important that we document the incidents. When the day comes that relatives want to ready cases, at least it's already prepared.)

The families came from Caloocan, Navotas, Malabon and Manila, said Bro. Jun Santiago, a missionary and photojournalist who chronicles the drug war that has killed thousands.

“Maganda na mabago ang isipan ng pamilya na hindi porke user o small-time pusher ay walang karapatan sa batas. Pwede silang hulihin pero hindi pwedeng patayin,” he said.

(It's good if we can change the mindset of the families that just because they're users or small-time pushers, it doesn't mean that they have no rights under the law. They can be arrested, but they can't be killed.)