By Jeffrey Damicog

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his co-accused are set to be arraigned next week over charges of conspiracy to commit sedition in connection with their alleged involvement in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” viral videos.

“They will be arraigned this March 17,” said Assistant State Prosecutor Michael Humarang, a member of the panel of prosecutors who conducted the preliminary investigation of the case.

The case is assigned to the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Branch 38.

On the other hand, he said the panel has yet to receive an order from Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento if the same panel will also be handling the prosecution of the accused in court.

Aside from Trillanes, those named as accused in the case are Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy; Police Sr. Supt. Eduardo Acierto; Joel Saracho, Boom Enriquez; Yolanda V. Ong; Vicente Romano III; Fr. Albert E. Alejo; Fr. Flaviano Villanueva; Jonnel P. Sangalang; and a certain Monique.

The case stemmed from the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video series which was released online back in April 2019 and became viral over the internet.

The videos which featured the hooded Bikoy accused a number of personalities including members of President Duterte’s family as being involved in illegal drugs activities.

In the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of having committed conspiracy to commit sedition “by circulating malicious and scurrilous libels and fabricating evidence against him (Duterte) and his immediate family members, making it appear that the President and his family are engaged in a drug trade syndicate, with no other purpose but to inflict an act of hate or revenge against the President of the Philippines and his immediate family members.”

READ MORE: Trillanes, 10 others charged with conspiracy to commit sedition