DOJ chief denies Sen. Leila de Lima raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice yesterday denied the allegations in the graft charges filed by detained Sen. Leila de Lima before the Office of the Ombudsman against her successors in the DOJ.

DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra specifically belied the insinuation of De Lima that inmates in New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City were used as state witnesses in the drug cases against her before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court.

“As far as I know, no convicted person has been used as a state witness against Sen. De Lima,” he stressed in a text message to reporters when asked for comment on charges of graft and violating Republic Act 6981, the witness protection law, filed by the senator against him and former secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Guevarra said none of the 13 NBP inmates who testified against De Lima in earlier legislative hearings had been admitted to the Witness Protection Program (WPP), contrary to the senator’s claim.

 The DOJ chief stressed that the inmates who earlier linked De Lima to the drug trade in the national penitentiary could serve as prosecution witnesses in her trial before the courts.

“The charge against De Lima was about trading in illegal drugs inside the NBP, so it would not be surprising that inmates will be called upon to testify,” he pointed out.

Guevarra did not address the other allegations of De Lima, citing absolute confidentiality under the WPP law.

Aguirre, for his part, did not comment since he has yet to receive copy of the complaint.

In her complaint, De Lima said the convicts were allegedly granted immunity in exchange for testifying against her.

Under RA 6981, De Lima said a state witness could only be admitted to the WPP if “he has not at any time been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.”