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[av_heading heading=’Drug trafficking raps vs de Lima, 7 others ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ and ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Sen. Leila de Lima and seven others have been charged with drug trafficking.
They were accused of conspiring to allow the proliferation of illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City — in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) filed the charges yesterday at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The other respondents were former DOJ undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Bucayu, de Lima’s former security aides Joenel Sanchez and Jose Adrian Dera, her former driver Ronnie Dayan, Bucayu’s staffer Wilfredo Dy, and Bilibid inmate Jaybee Sebastian.
VACC chairman Dante Jimenez said the complaints were based on testimonies of some witnesses at a recent House of Representatives inquiry.
“Respondents definitely saw how profitable the system established in the Bilibid at that time. Like hungry wolves, they took advantage of their power, influence and resources,” Jimenez said in a statement.
While she believed the case should have been filed at the Office of Ombudsman, de Lima welcomed it.
“This is most welcome. Instead of stoning me in a House inquiry, they should start filing cases in a proper venue,” she said in a statement. “In the meantime, the complainants wasted time by filing it (case) with the DOJ.”
De Lima said the allegations supposedly happened when she was DOJ secretary.
“[While] the DOJ may initially take cognizance, this case would eventually be filed by the DOJ with the Ombudsman for another round of fact-finding investigation,” she said.
Jimenez noted the respondents may face life imprisonment and fined between P5 million and P10 million.
“In this case, respondents clearly acted in conspiracy,” he claimed. “They all came
to an agreement concerning the sale and trade of drugs and acted on such understanding.”
De Lima took advantage of her position as DOJ secretary in asking for campaign contributions from drug lords, Jimenez said in the complaint.
“It is well-settled that direct proof, however, is not essential to show conspiracy. It need not be shown that the parties actually came together and agreed in express terms to enter into and pursue a common design,” he said.
“The concerted actions of respondents in this case before, during and after the commission of illegal sale and trade prohibited drugs, demonstrate their unity of design and objective of perpetuating the act,” he added./PN
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