11 witnesses vs De Lima returned to Bilibid

MANILA, Philippines —  Eleven witnesses in former senator Leila de Lima’s third and final drug case have been ordered by a Muntinlupa court to be returned to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City from the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro.

The transfer was ordered by Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch on Dec. 13 in response to a motion filed by De Lima on Nov. 21 asking for the transfer of seven inmates who claimed that they were coerced to make false testimonies against her.

According to De Lima, she received a handwritten letter signed by German Agojo, Tomas Doniña, Jaime Patcho, Wu Tuan Yuan, Engelberto Durano, Jerry Pepino and Hans Anton Tan expressing their intention to recant their testimonies.

De Lima asked the court to summon them to confirm the “authenticity and truthfulness” of their claims as well as to ensure their safety and security.

Apart from the seven inmates, four other witnesses – Herbert Colangco, Noel Martinez, Nonilo Arile and Noel Capones – have been ordered to be returned to the NBP.

All 11 witnesses have been ordered to be moved to the NBP’s minimum security compound.

De Lima, who was released on bail, is facing the last drug case against her involving her alleged participation in the illegal drug trade in the NBP during her time as justice secretary.

BuCor frees 985 inmates

Meanwhile, 985 inmates were released from the seven prison and penal farms of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) yesterday.

Based on BuCor data, 549 inmates were released from the NBP: 232 from the maximum security compound, 238 from medium security and 51 from minimum security.

Twenty-eight inmates from NBP’s regional diagnostic center were also released.

The BuCor also freed 156 inmates from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, 90 from the Correctional Institute for Women, 54 from the Leyte Regional Prison and 41 from the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan.

Seventy-two inmates were also released from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga del Sur and 22 from Sablayan prison.

According to BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr., the inmates were either acquitted, released on probation or parole or have completed their maximum sentence.