Sue prosecutors in De Lima case, DOJ urged

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan yesterday called on the Department of Justice to pursue administrative and criminal charges against the DOJ prosecutors who filed, then withdrew, a motion seeking to reverse the acquittal of Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima in her final drug case.

Calling the move a “blatant abuse of the justice system,” Pangilinan said the 10-member panel of prosecutors may be held liable for malicious prosecution, unethical conduct and gross ignorance of the law under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.

Although Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the withdrawal of the motion for reconsideration, Pangilinan said accountability remains necessary.

“This is not only harassment and a deliberate act of injustice against someone who has suffered seven years in detention over baseless charges, it is also a misuse of prosecutorial power and an affront to the judiciary,” Pangilinan said.

Led by Provincial Prosecutor Ramoncito Bienvenido Ocampo Jr., the DOJ panel consists of City Prosecutors Blas Tuliao and Laurence Joel Taliping; Deputy City Prosecutors Leilia Llanes, Evangeline Viudez-Canobas and Darwin Cañete, as well as Senior Assistant City Prosecutors Rudy Ricamora Jr., John Quincy Carandang, Wendell Bendoval and Alfred Joseph Jamora.