By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Despite a court order to return to the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City of the 11 inmates who testified against former Senator Leila de Lima, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Saturday (Dec. 23) has stood firm that they should not be returned to their former detention.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV argued that the inmates must remain at the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro.
“We are doing what we think is the right thing to do. Nothing more, nothing less,” Clavano IV claimed.
But De Lima was unimpressed.
“Are they afraid of the Truth? Why are they blocking it? The DOJ’s refusal to transfer the 11 inmate witnesses in my last remaining drug case from Sablayan to NBP only shows the agency’s continuing attempt to stand by its former secretaries’ (Aguirre and Guevarra) bogus charges against me,” De Lima quipped.
Presiding Judge Gener Gito of Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) recently ordered the return to the Bilibid the 11 inmates who testified against De Lima.
Gito acted on the motions filed by De Lima and the prosecution.
However, despite the court decision, the DOJ was still looking into legal action to block the transfer of the inmates to NBP.
It explained that it is concerned that such an inmate return would appear as a reward for recanting testimonies against De Lima.
The former senator filed a motion dated Nov. 21 that sought to transfer seven inmates.
She said the inmates sent her a Nov. 17 letter claiming they were forced to testify against her and are concerned for their safety.
On the other hand, the prosecution filed a Dec. 5 motion that sought the transfer of the 11 PDLs “to facilitate smooth and easy access to them.”
Last month De Lima was released on bail.
She is facing only one drug case before the RTC after she was acquitted in two other drug cases.
(IAmigo/MNM)
