Even after two witnesses recanted their claims about Senator Leila De Lima’s alleged ties to illicit drug syndicates, President Rodrigo Duterte believes that the remaining cases against her, his toughest critic, will “prosper.”
Duterte said former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official Rafael Ragos, a key witness, was allegedly bribed to withdraw his testimony against De Lima.
“Si Ragos, he was a witness. But, overall, we think we can still prosper in the prosecution of De Lima,” the President said in a taped interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired on Friday.
“Ngayon, kung ikaw si Ragos, offeran ka ng 15 million, saan kunin ni De Lima yung pera? Drug lords. Siya yung napreso dahil– tinutulungan na rin siya ngayon, sigurado. Walang tao na magpunta sa korte tapos mag-recant ka ng ganoon after a few years. Pera-pera ‘yan,” Duterte said.
Ragos said De Lima “is incapable of doing anything illegal” in recanting his testimony. He claimed he was merely threatened to make false claims by then-Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Kerwin Espinosa, a self-professed drug baron, has also withdrawn his statements against the senator, claiming that the claims against her are false.
Duterte: Ragos bribed to recant statements vs. De Lima
According to Duterte’s acting spokesperson Martin Andanar, Espinosa’s move will not influence De Lima’s pending charges because he is not a state witness.
However, because it is election season, Duterte questioned the timeliness of the retractions. He asserted that if Vice President Leni Robredo wins the presidency, she will pardon De Lima and Espinosa.
“Yun talaga sa trabaho nila, itong pera and some commitment word. Tignan mo kung nanalo ‘yan diyan, pardon ‘yan, si Espinosa,” said Duterte.
“Kaya kung mananalo ‘yan si Leni Robredo, pardon ‘yan si De Lima pati yung ano. ‘Yan mamili kayo.”
De Lima’s destiny, according to Malacanang, is now in the hands of the courts. She is still facing two narcotics charges in a local court. Last year, a case was dismissed.
Since early 2017, she has been held at the PNP Custodial Center. Despite the developments, the congressman recently questioned the Department of Justice’s decision to keep her in custody.
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