The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended the filing of criminal charges against Senator Leila de Lima, other government officials, and inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
NBI, led by spokesman Ferdinand Lavin and Anti-Illegal Drugs Division (AIDD) chief Joel Tovera, trooped to the nearby DOJ to recommend the filing of charges Thursday, November 10, following its preliminary investigation that began on October 4 upon orders of justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
The agency recommended that De Lima be charged for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act, expressing confidence that they have sufficient evidence to pin her down.
“We have interlocking connections, sanga-sanga ito. Iyong sinabi ng isa, vinalidate nung isa, kinorroborate ng isa (One’s statement was validated by one and corroborated by another). I believe we have a good case,” Lavin said.
De Lima, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Franklin Bucayu, former justice undersecretary Francisco Baraan III and former BuCor officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos were also recommended to be charged for the following:
violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
direct bribery
violation of Republic Act (RA) 6173 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees
The NBI also recommended the filing of the three cases against the lady senator’s former aides, Ronnie Dayan and Joenel Sanchez, as well as the following:
NBI Intelligence Agent Jovencio Ablen Jr.
Wilfredo Elli, Bucayu’s subordinate
Julius Rejuso and a certain “George,” alleged collectors of De Lima
Lyn Sagum, De Lima’s personal assistant
Jesusa Francisco, the DOJ employee allegedly reporting to Baraan
The NBI report said De Lima, Baraan, Bucayu and Ragos “accepted huge amounts of money from NBP inmates, either by themselves or through their conduits,” referring to the others accused “who were fully aware of the unlawfullness of their actions, yet, still actively conspired with their superiors.”
The senator had in the past insisted her innocence in the accusations of benefiting from drug money.
The inmates who testified at the House of Representatives’ probe in the NBP drug trade hearings are also recommended for suit for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
NBI explained that the immunity granted to inmates Jaybee Sebastian, Herbert Colanggo, Wu Tuan Yuan alias Peter Co, Engelbert Durano, Vicente Sy and Jojo Baligad only covered their admission of wrongdoing, not the allegations of other witnesses.
“It is clear from their own testimonies and those of other witnesses that they themselves committed infractions considered criminal in nature and there is sufficient ground or probable cause exist to support the filing of cases,” it explained.
The post NBI Wants De Lima, ex-DOJ Chiefs Sued for Bilibid Drug Trade appeared first on Manila Bulletin
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