JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday debunked an allegation of Senator Leila De Lima the former restored the privileges of Bilibid inmates who testified against her during the inquiry of the House of Representatives on the proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison.
“That is absolutely untrue. She must be thinking of the time when she was the Secretary of Justice,” Aguirre said in an interview.
Aguirre dared De Lima to prove her charges, instead of just making statements in the media.
“If she has the evidence, then present it,” Aguirre said, adding since he started his stint as DoJ chief, such “privileges” to the inmates had been cut.
Meanwhile, De Lima has prodded the Court of Appeals to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the Department of Justice from proceeding with its preliminary investigation on charges filed against her, in connection with her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
De Lima filed a second petition before the CA on Tuesday, particularly asking the appellate court to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the DoJ from resolving the complaint filed by the NBI against her, her former driver-lover Ronnie Dayan and alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
The embattled senator already filed a similar petition with the CA early last month asking the Justice department to restrain the DoJ from proceeding with the preliminary investigation on the first four complaints filed against her by the NBI, crime watchdog group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala and high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian in relation to her alleged involvement in illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison.
The appellate court has since not acted on her petition following the inhibition of the justices from the case.
In her new petition, De Lima reiterated her argument the DoJ had no jurisdiction over the cases, which has exclusive jurisdiction of graft cases against elected officials.
De Lima again argued the DoJ probe “is a waste of time and government resources if the DoJ would still pursue the investigation on these cases,” citing media pronouncements by Aguirre the prosecutors would submit their findings to the Office of the Ombudsman.
She also branded the preliminary investigation as mere “charade” aimed at persecuting her for being vocal against the government’s war on illegal drugs.
De Lima lamented there had been violation of her rights by the agency she headed for over five years under the previous administration.
Lastly, petitioner questioned the impartiality and objectivity of the DoJ in resolving the charges.
“The integrity of the investigation in the cases, however, appears to be seriously tainted and deeply compromised, as no less than the President and the DoJ Secretary in tandem with each other, and, at numerous times, acting separately, have prejudged the guilt of respondent Senator De Lima,” she stressed.
The fifth drug trafficking complaint against De Lima involved Espinosa’s testimony in the Senate that he delivered P8 million in drug money to De Lima and Dayan.
De Lima earlier alleged she had “indisputable information that Aguirre reestablished the privileges of the high-profile inmates led by convicted robber Herbert Colanggo who testified against her in the House’ inquiry on the illegal drug trade.
She said among these privileges were the use of cellular phones and other electronic gadgets, television, airconditioning units and even Internet access.
The use and or possession of such devices inside the New Bilibid Prison are strictly prohibited with Aguirre himself saying last year the illegal drugs trade proliferated due to the presence of communication gadgets which allowed them to contact their cohorts outside.
De Lima said if Aguirre would deny such accusation, she would show the evidence to members of the Commission on Appointments tasked to deliberate on and approve the appointment of Cabinet officials.
The CA has deferred the confirmation of Aguirre due to the opposition of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
