Daughter and lawyer's revelation highlights Colanggo's lack of credibility - De Lima

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima slammed anew the lack of credibility of a Prosecution witness against her, Bilibid inmate Herbert Colanggo, following his daughter and lawyer's admission that they paid 10 million pesos to "fix" his robbery case.

De Lima, who remains detained over trumped-up illegal drug charges for more than four and a half years now, said she has always asserted that the convict-witnesses who testified against her, including Colanggo who was convicted of robbery and robbery with homicide, committed perjury.

"Recently, it was reported, as admitted by his daughter and lawyer, that Herbert Colanggo--a prosecution witness against me--paid 10 million pesos to 'fix' his robbery case. Patunay lang ito sa kawalan niya ng kredibilidad. Ganito bang klase ng testigo, na pinapaareglo ang kaso, ang paniniwalaan ng Korte ang testimonya laban sa akin?" she asked.

"Gaya ng sinabi ko noon, kargado ng kasamaan ang mga testigo laban sa akin. Maaaring nakinabang o tinakot sila," she added.

The National Bureau of Investigation recently arrested Herajen Colanggo, daughter of Bilibid inmate Colanggo, in an entrapment operation in the DSWD office.

A complaint was filed by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Usec. Aimee Neri alleging that Herajen tried to extort 3 million pesos from her, stemming from a land dispute case.

It may be recalled that Colanggo, who is currently detained in the general headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo, alleged in a 20-minute video clip from prison posted on social media last April that their lives are at risk.

De Lima then said that the video only proved that Colanggo continues to enjoy several perks as a DOJ witness, including cellphones and access to the internet.

"These privileges are given to the killer of RCBC employees in exchange for his perjured testimony against me," De Lima added.