Duterte ‘orders’ transfer of de Lima witnesses to Taguig

President Rodrigo Duterte admits ordering the transfer of high profile inmates – who testified against Sen. Leila de Lima in her drug cases – to the Philippine Marines Corps barracks in Taguig. PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS
President Rodrigo Duterte admits ordering the transfer of high profile inmates – who testified against Sen. Leila de Lima in her drug cases – to the Philippine Marines Corps barracks in Taguig. PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte admitted ordering the transfer of high profile inmates – who testified against Sen. Leila de Lima in her drug cases – out of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In a speech in Cebu’s Naga City on Friday, Duterte ordered the transfer of inmates to the Philippine Marines Corps barracks in Taguig for their safety since de Lima allegedly has allies inside the NBP.

“May issue na merong ilan na hindi ko pinakulong sa penitentiary, Muntinlupa. Pinalipat ko sa Marines,” Duterte said. “Kasi natatakot ako na may mga tao pa si de Lima na naiwan doon at ‘yung mga testigo laban sa kanya ay papatayin.”

“Darating ang panahon na wala na magsasabi ng katotohanan. Ako ‘yan. Ako ang nag-utos (ng paglipat ng preso),” he added.

The Bureau of Corrections transferred 10 high profile convicts to the Philippine Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Fort Bonifacio last June, including Peter Co, Joel Capones, Jojo Baligad, and Froilan Trestiza.

Meanwhile, Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Menardo Guevarra said there was nothing irregular with the transfer of inmates from NBP “as long as court approval is secured.”

“There was nothing irregular with that,” said Guevarra, who admitted he was unsure if a court actually issued an order for the transfer of the said inmates.

De Lima has been in detention since Feb. 2017 on charges that she tolerated drug syndicates inside the NBP when she was chief of the DOJ. The detained senator denied the allegations./PN

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here