DOJ gives De Lima’s plea ‘serious consideration’

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra has assured detained opposition Sen. Leila De Lima that he would give “serious consideration” to her request for a review and withdrawal of the drug charges against her.

“I will give Sen. De Lima’s letter my serious consideration and will discuss the matter with other senior officials of the DOJ and the NPS (National Prosecutor Service),” Guevarra said in a Viber message when asked to comment on De Lima’s request.

The senator, in detention since 2017, made the request following the retraction of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos of his testimony against her.

Guevarra said he “caught a glimpse” of De Lima’s letter before he left his office Friday evening, when asked if he was able to read it. He said he will “still have to study it carefully” before making any judgment.

But he clarified that De Lima’s cases are already in the trial stage and “the only way to find out if witnesses are lying is to present them in court for intensive examination and cross-examination.”

He also emphasized that it is the judge who would weigh on the “truthfulness and probative value” of the testimony of witnesses and who would eventually “render judgment based on the totality of evidence presented by both sides at the end of trial.”

Guevarra also emphasized that the delay in progress of De Lima’s cases was due to many factors, including the calendar and caseload of the court, the number of accused persons, the number and availability of witnesses and various motions filed by both defense and prosecution panels.

He added petitions for judicial review of trial court orders, pandemic lockdown, inhibition or recusal of presiding judges have also slowed down the deliberation on the cases.

“Through bail is the only way that Senator De Lima could be temporarily free during the pendency of the trial. She tried, but the court denied,” he added.