The Department of Justice (DOJ) assured on Thursday, Aug. 11, that its 2017 resolution on the filing of illegal drug charges against former Sen. and ex-Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima is not in conflict with the recent ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) which dismissed the direct and indirect bribery complaints against her.
“The Department would like to reiterate and point out that we are consistent with the recent resolution of the Ombudsman,” the DOJ said in a statement.
The statement was issued after the OMB dismissed the complaints against De Lima and her former aide, Ronnie Dayan, over allegations that they received about P8 million in bribe money from self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa.
In 2017, the DOJ filed drug charges before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court (RTC) after finding probable cause to indict De Lima on her alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
“In the DOJ Resolution, the Panel did not consider the testimony of Kerwin Espinosa as there was no corroborating evidence to support his allegation that he delivered P8 million to the former Senator for future protection,” the DOJ said.
“Therefore, it was clear to the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors that Espinosa’s confession on the allegation of payment for protection was not convincing,” it said.
It pointed out that “these cases (dismissed by OMB) pertain to the bribery charges against former Senator de Lima. Before the Muntinlupa courts are the drug trade charges which have completely different elements to be proven than that of bribery,” it added.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla had reiterated the DOJ’s stand to let the court decide on the illegal drugs charges filed against De Lima.
“It’s up to the courts,” Remulla said.
On the dismissal of De Lima’s criminal cases, Remulla admitted a number of individuals and groups have already approached him seeking the DOJ’s withdrawal of the drug charges.
“Dami na (There are many already), diplomats mostly,” the justice secretary said. “I just had to explain the situation to them,” he added.
DOJ Spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano reminded that the trial of the drug charges is ongoing. ”We have already presented our evidence,” he said. “It is former Senator De Lima’s turn to present hers,” he added.
De Lima has been detained at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City since 2017.
She is facing drug charges under Criminal Case Nos. 17-165 and 17-167 before the Muntinlupa City RTC.