Press Release
September 10, 2019

De Lima laughs off alleged 'security threat' vs convict-witnesses

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has laughed off Mr. Duterte's public admission that it was for security reasons why he ordered the transfer of some convict-witnesses in her trumped-up drug cases to the Philippine Marines' headquarters.

De Lima, a staunchest critic of the Duterte administration, called Mr. Duterte's decision to transfer some 10 inmates as "highly suspicious" and is connected with their impending testimony before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC).

In her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 588, she labelled as "baloney" and "hilarious" the government's explanation that "very special security reasons" pushed them to transfer the high-profile convicts to the Marines headquarters.

"I view as highly suspicious the reported transfer of some NBP inmates-witnesses in my drug cases from the NBP's maximum security compound to the Marines' barracks in Taguig," she said.

"For 'very special security reasons' raw because they are 'witnesses to a certain case,' meaning, the trumped-up drug cases against me. Are they implying that there's a security threat coming from me? Baloney! Hilarious!" she added.

The transfer of high-profile convict-witnesses was discovered after several media outlets reported that dismissed Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon signed an order transferring them to the Marines barracks.

Among them were Hans Anton Tan, Peter Co alias Wu Tuan Yuan, Jojo Baligad, Vicente Sy, Froilan Trestiza, Nonilo Arile, Chua Che Ket, Rico Caja, Joel Capones and Allan Senogat.

Of the 10 convicts, seven - Arile, Baligad, Sy, Tan, Trestiza, Co, and Capones --had testified against De Lima on her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trading inside the NBP during her tenure as justice secretary.

Mr. Duterte publicly admitted he gave the directive to transfer these convict-witnesses because he fears that they might be killed by De Lima's alleged allies inside the NBP.

The lady Senator from Bicol pointed out, however, that she believes that the suspicious transfer was made to give her oppressors a chance to further "operate" on these convict-witnesses to ensure them to stick with their claims against her.

"I strongly suspect that the real reason is for my oppressors to further 'operate' on these convicts-witnesses, i.e., to further coach and coerce or pressure them to stick to their perjured testimonies. Tila walang katapusan ang kasamaan ng rehimen na ito!," she said.

When she was justice secretary, De Lima led a series of raid inside NBP where she discovered and ended the luxurious lifestyles of high-profile convicted inmates who later on turned witnesses against her in the conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading charges she is now facing.

De Lima has reiterated that the trumped-up drug charges filed by the Duterte regime are part of a political vendetta for being the staunchest critic of the government's bogus war against illegal drugs, extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.

She has always maintained her innocence from these drug charges which were all based on manufactured evidence and perjured testimonies of convicted inmates who have an axe to grind for leading the investigation into their illegal activities inside NBP.

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