Marcos: Asking prosecutors to drop cases vs De Lima is interference
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. insisted Friday that he will be meddling with the judiciary if he asks government prosecutors, who are under the executive branch, to drop cases against former Sen. Leila de Lima.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event with the Department of Science and Technology in Pasay City, Marcos said “urging prosecutors to do one thing or another is interfering.”
“We are very, very clear that we have three departments of government and maybe we should let it run its course. We do not doubt the process anyway,” Marcos said partly in Filipino.
This, even as De Lima herself appealed to Marcos on Twitter to order the Department of Justice to stop blocking Rafael Ragos, one of the prosecution’s star witness against her, from retaking the witness stand after his recantation.
Mr. President @bongbongmarcos , I will not and will never ask you to interfere with the courts. This is my earnest and most respectful plea to you, your Excellency: Order DOJ to stop blocking the testimony of the recanting prosecution witness Rafael Ragos [1/2]
— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) October 13, 2022
The former senator also asked Marcos to order the DOJ to stop presenting “obviously perjured” witnesses like convicted drug dealer Herbert Colangco.
“You can reverse the grievous wrongs inflicted on me by your predecessor. Please, Mr. President. Salamat po (Thank you,)” De Lima said.
Calls for release
Calls for the review of illegal drugs cases against De Lima and for her release after more than five years in detention mounted after she was held hostage by a fellow detainee inside the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR: Leila de Lima hostage-taking
Among those who made these appeals are US lawmakers led by Sen. Edward Markey, who wrote Wednesday to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla urging the Marcos administration to “review her case to ensure that her treatment comports with our collective values.”
“We therefore urge you to immediately review Senator de Lima’s case, release her from detention, officially recognize the lack of evidence against her, and drop all charges,” Markey and five other US lawmakers said.
READ: Hostage-taking just latest hardship for De Lima since 2017 arrest, allies say
They also asked for an “independent and impartial” investigation on how witnesses against De Lima made false claims and for the Marcos administration to identify and hold accountable members of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte who may have been involved. — Xave Gregorio with a report from Kristine Joy Patag
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