MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Leila de Lima has asked a Muntinlupa City court to disqualify 13 convicts as witnesses in the drug charges she is facing.
De Lima’s lawyer, Boni Tacardon, filed a motion before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 to stop the inmates from testifying in the drug cases filed against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The DOJ presented Nonilo Arile, Jojo Baligad, Herbert Colanggo, Engelberto Durano, Rodolfo Magleo, Vicente Sy, Hans Tan, Froilan Trestiza, Peter Co, Noel Martinez, Joel Capones, German Agojo and Jaime Patcho as witnesses against De Lima.
Tacardon said the inmates do not qualify as witnesses since they have been convicted of drugs, murder, homicide, kidnapping and robbery.
Under Section 10 of Republic Act 6981, Tacardon said those convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude should not be admitted as a state witness.