De Lima camp wants Aquino, Bato among possible witnesses in drug case

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Sen. Leila de Lima said on Friday that they are looking into calling former President Benigno Aquino III and former top cop Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as possible witnesses in the drug case against her.

Filibon Tacardon, De Lima’s legal counsel, told reporters on Friday morning that they have included Aquino as one of the possible witnesses in the case.

“Because being the president, he has all the information relative to the topic... We want to present him to prove that at all times material in the case, there was no issue or rumor that would involve [De Lima] in drug trading,” the lawyer said in a mix of Filipino and English.

A transcript of the interview was sent to reporters.

Earlier on Friday, De Lima was arraigned on the case on third conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading. Like in the first two cases against her, the senator did not make a plea before the court saying that she does not recognize the charge against her. The court, on her behalf, entered a not guilty plea.

The senator is facing three drug-related charges over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drug trading inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was Aquino’s Justice secretary.

READ: De Lima refuses to enter plea in conspiracy to commit drug trading

Bato dela Rosa, Sandra Cam, Vitaliano Aguirre II as possible witnesses

Tacardon also said that they also want Dela Rosa to take the witness stand as the former top cop was quoted in news reports as threatening witnesses. The lawyer said that they wanted Dela Rosa to explain in court the allegation that convicts, who are witnesses in the case, were pressured to testify.

The lawyer also said that they want to call on former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II as a witness. “According to [De Lima], as early as July 2016, she was hearing rumors that there are people who wanted to implicate her in the drug trade,” and Aguirre was one of those people, said Tacardon.

RELATED: De Lima sues Guevarra, Aguirre over 'illegal' admission of inmates to WPP

Tacardon also said that they wanted Sandra Cam, who was revealed to have visited the NBP during the case build up and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption as possible witnesses.

The VACC is one of the private complainants in the drug cases against De Lima.