Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday have decided to conclude their investigation on the proliferation and trading of illegal drugs in the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP).
For Justice Committee Chairman Reynaldo Umali, all fingers point to then Justice Secretary — now Senator Leila De Lima.
“All roads lead to her,” Umali said.
Witnesses in the House probe — mostly prison inmates, with a few former prison officials, and two former staff of De Lima — claim they gave drug money to De Lima – sometimes in person, but most of the time through a go-between.
Umali believes the witnesses, 14 of whom are convicts, are telling the truth.
“Who can testify credibly on what is happening there but the inmates themselves,” Umali said.
But some lawmakers are questioning the credibility of some witnesses particularly Jaybee Sebastian — the one tagged as the King of druglords in the national penitentiary.
Some of Sebastian’s statements contradicted those of the other witnesses. House Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro said this makes Sebastian’s testimony weak.
“If Jaybee Sebastian is only one against ten, and the testimony of other witnesses are corroborative to each other, therefore I as a lawyer would rather believe the testimony of the rest,” Castro said.
Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano believes De Lima is innocent.
He said many of the convicts-turned-witnesses were forced to testify against the Senator.
“Kontrolado ho sila ng kanilang mga gwardya o ng DOJ (Department of Justice),” Alejano said. “Mas mahalaga na komportable sila at safe sila pati ang kanilang pamilya.”
[Translation: They are controlled by their prison guards and of the DOJ. It’s more important that they’re comfortable and safe, as well as their families.]
Some in the minority bloc chose to skip the House probe.
“I think it’s garbage,” Caloocan City Rep. Edgardo Erice, De Lima’s fellow Liberal Party member, said.
“They are compromised witnesses, they will do anything. They will say anything para maprotektahan nila iyong interest nila, iyong comfort nila sa loob ng prison.” [They will say anything to protect their interests, their comfort inside the prisons.]
Meanwhile, for Minority member Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, the probe was merely a “publicity stunt.”
He also said it’s meant to create a “chilling effect” on the administration’s critics.
“Ito ang mangyayari sa inyo,” Baguilat said. [This is what will happen to you.]
The House Committee on Justice hopes to come up with a report on the recently-concluded hearing by next week.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier asked the committee to limit recommendations to legislative solutions, and avoid suggestions for the prosecution of certain individuals.
