Palace, DOJ: Kerwin’s recantation has no weight

MANILA, Philippines — Self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa’s recantation of his allegations linking Sen. Leila de Lima to the illegal drug trade “will not have any effect” on the pending cases against her, Malacañang stressed yesterday.

Presidential Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said Espinosa is not a state witness.

“While Kerwin Espinosa appears to have recanted his allegations against Sen. Leila de Lima, his recantation will not have any effect on the pending criminal cases against the lady senator,” Andanar said in a statement.

Espinosa retracted on Thursday his testimony during Senate hearings in 2016, which implicated De Lima in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison when she was secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

De Lima, a staunch critic of President Duterte, has been detained on drug charges since February 2017.

‘Glaring delay’

The DOJ, meanwhile, said Espinosa’s recantation “bears no weight” as it has been more than five years since he executed his previous testimony.

In a statement, the DOJ said that Espinosa’s “glaring delay” in recanting his previous statements “poses a question on his truthfulness and motive.”

The retraction will not affect the pending drug cases against De Lima before two branches of the regional trial court (RTC) in Muntinlupa City since the recanted statements “were never utilized and will not be used” as evidence, according to the DOJ.

Records show that De Lima is still facing two illegal drug cases. One is before RTC Branch 204, where the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence, while the other is with RTC Branch 256, where the prosecution is set to present its last three witnesses on May 16.

De Lima’s former aide, Ronnie Dayan, was scheduled to appear before RTC Branch 204 yesterday.

Asked if they intend to file a perjury case against Espinosa, DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they will discuss the matter with the panel of prosecutors.

“Making false statements under oath is a criminal offense,” he said, adding that Espinosa has to prove his claim that he issued his testimony under threat.