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[av_heading heading=’De Lima, 17 others charged with graft, drug conspiracy ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed charges against Sen. Leila de Lima and 17 others before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.
De Lima and some former DOJ and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials were charged with violating sections 5 (sale), 26 (b) (attempt or conspiracy) and 27 (criminal liability of a public officer/employee) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act; Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act; and qualified bribery.
They were also accused of violating An Act Punishing the Receiving and Giving of Gifts of Public Officials and Employees (Presidential Decree 46) and Section 7 of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Official and Employees (Republic Act 6713).
Other respondents were Franklin Bucayu, Francisco Baraan III, Rafael Ragos, Joenel Sanchez, Ronnie Dayan, Jovencio Ablen Jr., Wilfredo Elli, Jesusa Francisco, Lyn Sagum, Julius Rejoso, and an alias “George.”
Also included in the case were Bilibid inmates Jaybee Sebastian, Herbert Colanggo, Engelbert Durano, Vicente Sy, Wu Tuan Yuan alias “Peter Co,” and Jojo Baligad.
The cases were based on testimonies of several resource persons, including inmates, before the House of Representatives, the NBI said.
Expected to be consolidated with other cases filed against the accused before, the cases will be investigated by a five-man panel of prosecutors created by Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
De Lima has repeatedly denied having a hand in the drug trade in Bilibid. She claimed that all the witnesses speaking against her were threatened by the government./PN
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