LIVE: House probe into Bilibid drug trade - Day 2
MANILA, Philippines — The members of the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday morning resumed its hearing into the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
The hearing is led by the committee's chair, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali.
The House panel is set to continue probing the alleged involvement of Sen. Leila De Lima in the illegal market.
During its first hearing, only four of the six witnesses namely convicted former police chief inspector, Rodolfo Magleo, convicted drug dealer Herbert Colanggo, former National Bureau of Investigation agent Jovencio Ablen and former Bureau of Corrections official Rafael Ragos, testified before the House panel. Two other witnesses, inmates Jaime Patcho and Noel Martinez, are scheduled to give their testimonies today.
All the six witnesses were granted immunity by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II led the questioning of the inmates as allowed by the House panel. These witnesses claimed De Lima received bribes from the inmates and allowed contrabands inside the prison.
Six witnesses are set to testify anew today, namely Martinez, Patcho, Jojo Baligad, Froilan Trestiza, Hans Anton Tan and Jesusa Francisco.
Watch the hearing LIVE starting 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016.
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