MANILA, Philippines — The House minority acknowledged the Committee on Justice's report on the Bilibid drug trade but insisted that charges should be filed against Sen. Leila de Lima over her alleged involvement.
The committee report refused to recommend the prosecution of De Lima over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
"As the Minority understands it, the Committee became reluctant to recommend Senator De Lima's prosecution - after it had received the testimonies of a host of witnesses testifying to her criminal culpability because in the latter's view - to do so is to breach of the principle of separation of powers," the House minority said.
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The House minority stressed that a congressional recommendation to prosecute De Lima does not overreach the lower chamber's jurisdiction.
According to the House minority, De Lima should face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
"A perusal of the affidavits reveals that De Lima had (1) received funds from various drug lords and syndicates in order to protect their business and (2) to accommodate their comfortable lifestyle in the National Penitentiary," the House minority report read.
The report cited the statement of NBP inmate Engelberto Durano who claimed that De Lima, through her former driver Ronnie Dayan, has been offering people drug trade protection in exchange for financial considerations.
Durano also claimed that Dayan once called him and told him that if he wants to "protect" his "business," he should help in the campaign of De Lima for her senatorial bid in 2016.
"He (Durano) even narrated a particular incident where he personally handed money to De Lima who was seen with the known drug lord Jaybee Sebastian," the report read.
The House minority reiterated that a prosecution of a public official for criminal acts is consistent with the principles of power and check and balance in the government.
"Exercised properly as a symbolic expression of the sense of the people's exasperation over official misconduct, it can be a tool of good governance, consistent with the principle that a public office is a public trust," the House minority said.