Meanwhile, Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch Asia, also called for the immediate release – on bail — of the senator to allow her to campaign for her re-election bid.
Malacañang is leaving it to the courts to look into the drug cases after the developments, while refusing to comment on former and current officials implicated by Ragos.
“We respect the independence of the court handling the case of Senator Leila de Lima, particularly in evaluating the evidence presented, such as the statements of former Bureau of Corrections Officer-in-Charge Rafael Ragos. At the same time, we continue to trust the Department of Justice and the National Prosecution Service in performing their mandates in investigating and prosecuting the charges against the lady senator,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 2) — At least four opposition candidates running in the upcoming national elections called for the immediate release of detained Senator Leila de Lima after two key witnesses separately retracted their statements on her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade in the National Bilibid Prison.
“There should be a full investigation of the allegations against the people who basically made up lies at the behest of others. I mean, obviously they have to face justice as well. And I think that ultimately, this case is going to come apart,” he told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word.
Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said there is no reason to prolong De Lima’s stay behind bars, stressing that the Duterte administration had filed cases against the senator without a shred of evidence, using testimony that are now being retracted.
There was no immediate reaction from Aguirre or other officials named by Ragos.
“Walang kaso laban kay Sen Leila de Lima. Ang tanging kasalanan niya ay ang magsabi ng totoo at ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng mga kapwa natin Pilipino. Wala nang dahilan para manatili sa piitan si Sen Leila. Dapat na siyang palayain sa lalong madaling panahon,” she said in a statement.
[Translation: There is no case against Sen. Leila de Lima. Her only crime is being honest and fighting for our countrymen. There is no reason for her to stay in detention. She must be released as soon as possible.]
Her running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, said De Lima’s case only highlights the rotten justice system in the country.
Another vice presidential candidate, Walden Bello, called for her immediate release after “Duterte’s case against Leila crumbles.”
Former Bureau of Corrections chief Rafael Ragos and self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa recently recanted their allegations that they gave money from Bilibid inmates to then-Justice Secretary De Lima.
Espinosa said he invented stories of their dealings because he was threatened by the police, while Ragos said he was coerced by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and other DOJ officials.
Senatorial aspirant Chel Diokno, who is running with De Lima in the slate of Robredo and Pangilinan, said officials who forced witnesses to lie should be held accountable.
“If Department of Justice (DOJ) officials can intimidate witnesses like Ragos and get away with it, what kind of justice can we expect? Kung nagawa nila ito sa nakaupong senador, paano pa kaya sa ordinaryong mamamayan [If they can do this to a senator, what can they do to an ordinary Filipino?],” he said.
De Lima, one of the staunchest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been in jail since 2017 on allegations that she used drug money to fund her senatorial campaign in 2016. She has repeatedly denied the allegations.
