De Lima: NBP inmates 'false, perjured witnesses'

MANILA – Senator Leila de Lima on Friday dismissed the Department of Justice's (DOJ) announcement that some high-profile New Bilibid Prison inmates will be testifying against her.

De Lima said the high-profile inmates intends to present against her are not credible.

“That simply means nakakahuha na sila ng mga (they got) false/perjured witnesses. I'm not surprised anymore since, as I said before, I was warned already about their evil design and insidious moves, such as fabrication of evidence. Pawang mga kasinungalingan yan! (Those are absolute lies) That's how evil and desperate they are,” De Lima said in a statement.

The House of Representatives is set to hold an inquiry into the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs at the national penitentiary.

The DOJ said, among the witnesses who will testify against De Lima in the September 20 hearing are Herbert Colangco and Noel Martinez.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said the two inmates, who were among the so-called "Bilibid 19" transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in 2014, along with at least 10 others, have voluntarily executed affidavits in the presence of their lawyers and public lawyers from the Public Attorney's Office (PAO). 

Other witnesses will come from the penal colonies, he added. 

“Very credible yan, ‘di katulad ni Matobato. Hindi ka maaaring mag-coach ng 12 testigo na nagkakatugma tugma ang kanilang sinasabi," Aguirre said.

At least two witnesses from the NBI will testify that De Lima personally received drug money from them, of at least P5-million per delivery. These deliveries were allegedly made in the presence of De Lima's former driver and alleged ex-lover, Ronnie Dayan, in De Lima's residence.

Asked as to the total amount of drug money allegedly received by De Lima, Aguirre said the matter is still being looked into.

"Kasi siyempre kung ikaw si De Lima, hindi mo naman iyan ide-deposit sa pangalan mo," he said. 

The high-profile inmates were allegedly directed by another high-profile NBP drug inmate, Jaybee Sebastian, to sell large volumes of shabu, as early as 2013, to contribute to De Lima's 2016 campaign kitty. 

"Sila ang inatasan ni Jaybee Sebastian na magsimulang magbenta ng droga at yung pinagbenta dyan kinukuha ang kontribusyon para daw sa candidacy ni De Lima, simula pa 2013," Aguirre said. 

Aguirre said there is reason to believe that the so-called "Bilibid 19" were moved to NBI so that all the drug operations and drug proceeds at the Bilibid would be controlled by Sebastian. 

The justice chief said the inmates executed the affidavits with no concessions promised to them. – reports from Adrian Ayalin and Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News