Cops bar De Lima’s allies from visiting

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) prohibited several allies of detained former senator Leila de Lima from visiting her on her birthday yesterday.

Economist Solita Monsod expressed outrage over the PNP’s actions on De Lima’s 62nd birthday.

In a post on Twitter, Monsod said she and her husband as well as their companions, which include former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, were barred from seeing De Lima at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“It is outrageous! We were on our way to visit Leila de Lima on her birthday when our request made weeks ago was just now verbally disapproved,” she said.

Monsod criticized the PNP for the treatment they have received from police officers.

“She’s not convicted, not allowed a phone, and now this!” she said.

Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, PNP public information officer, told reporters on Viber they will look into the issue.

Ex-driver recants in court

De Lima’s ex-driver and bodyguard maintained on Friday that the testimony he made during a congressional hearing in 2016 implicating her in the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary was not true.

Ronnie Dayan made the assertion during his testimony at the resumption of the hearing on De Lima’s case at the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204.

De Lima’s counsel, Filibon Tacardon, said Dayan stood by his statement as he concluded his testimony.

Dayan was asked repeatedly about the issue and he maintained that his testimony in Congress wherein he said he transported illegal drugs on behalf of De Lima was untrue.

Tacardon said the effect of Dayan’s testimony means his claims and sworn statements submitted to Congress are untrue.

Dayan also mentioned the sworn affidavit of former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos would also support his statement.

The court set the next hearing on De Lima’s case on Sept. 30 and Oct. 28.

Tacardon said Ragos and some journalists who were present in his press conference where he retracted his allegations against De Lima may be summoned by the court to testify.