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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider De Lima to Espenido: 'Come clean, tell the truth I have no links to drug trade'

De Lima to Espenido: 'Come clean, tell the truth I have no links to drug trade'

Published Jun 3, 2022 05:44 pm

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima on Friday, June 3 called on former Albuera Police Chief Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido to finally speak the truth about her innocence in relation to the trumped-up illegal drug charges filed against her.

De Lima made the call after Marcelo Adorco, who earlier served as government witness against self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, admitted in his recent counter-affidavits that he just made his previous allegations due to fear for his life.

“Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido must now also come clean and tell the truth. He knows that I have absolutely no links to self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and/or any involvement in the illegal drug trade,” de Lima had said in her statement posted on Twitter.

In his counter-affidavits filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ) last May 24, 2022 and August 28, 2020, Adorco recanted his allegations in his 2016 and 2017 affidavits admitting his involvement in the illegal drug trade while dragging the names of several personalities, including Espinosa.

Espinosa, who also testified that De Lima was involved in illegal drug trade when she was still justice secretary, had also recanted his allegations and said he had no dealings with de Lima in a counter-affidavit that he filed at the DOJ on April 28 this year.

In Adorco’s 2020 counter-affidavit, he denied personally knowing De Lima, and that he had no personal knowledge about the alleged meeting of De Lima and Espinosa in Baguio City.

De Lima reiterated that those who conspired to implicate her on the illegal drug trade that their lies will unravel no matter how hard they try to conceal them.

“Ipinapanalangin ko ang lahat ng nagsabwatan para idiin ako sa mga kasinungalingan at gawa-gawang kaso, gayundin sa mga nananahimik pa hanggang ngayon ukol sa aking pagiging inosente (I’m praying for all those who conspired to pin me down with their lies and fabricated cases, and even for those who until now are still quiet about me being innocent),” she said.

“Tiwala ako na sa pagsisiwalat nila ng katotohanan, gaya ng mga nauna nang bumawi sa kanilang mga testimonya, magkakaroon sila ng higit na kapanatagan ng loob at isip, at tunay silang makakalaya mula sa tanikala ng buhol-buhol na kasinungalingan (I have faith that as they bare the truth, like those who retracted their testimonies, they will have more peace of mind and real freedom from the web of lies),” she added.

Aside from Adorco and Espinosa’s recantation, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Officer-in-Charge Rafael Ragos and De Lima’s former aide Ronnie Dayan also withdrew their allegations against her.

All claimed that they have been coerced and threatened by state agents and key government officials of the Duterte Administration.

Related Tags

jovie espenido Leila de Lima Department of Justice (DOJ) illegal drugs
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