Drug raps vs De Lima under DOJ review

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice is reviewing the drug charges filed against Sen. Leila de Lima after several witnesses recanted their testimonies against her, DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.

State prosecutors periodically review the evidence in cases they handle, including that of De Lima’s, “whether there was a retraction of the statements or not,” Guevarra said in a radio interview.

Self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, De Lima’s former driver Ronnie Dayan and Espinosa’s bodyguard Marcelo Adorco have recanted their statements against De Lima, who is accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary.

Guevarra said the retractions should be presented in court and not to the media so that the court can cross-examine the witnesses, who claimed they were coerced by government officials into signing the allegations against the senator, who has been detained since 2017.