De Lima camp questions real name of witness Colangco

MANILA, Philippines — A Muntinlupa City court yesterday issued a subpoena to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as the lawyer of detained former senator Leila de Lima questioned the real name of prosecution witness Herbert Colangco.

De Lima’s counsel Boni Tacardon said there were discrepancies in the name of Colangco.

In one drug case filed against De Lima, Tacardon said it was found that his name is Roy Vincent Colangco.

“The PSA was subpoenaed to present his birth certificate to the court,” Tacardon told reporters.

He said this would prove the significance of the “credibility and capacity” of Colangco as a witness.

Tacardon also noted the supposed inaccuracies in the statements of Colangco during previous hearings.

Government deputy prosecutor Darwin Canete said they do not see the point of the question being raised by the defense.

Former Bureau of Corrections chief Rafael Ragos is set to testify on Friday at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204, which is hearing the drug charge filed against De Lima.

Ragos had recanted his allegations that De Lima was involved in the illegal drug trade when she was justice secretary.

The court set the next hearing on De Lima’s other drug case on Nov. 7.