PDL who plans to recant testimony vs De Lima returned to Bilibid from Sablayan Prison

A person deprived of liberty (PDL), who wanted to recant his testimony against detained former Sen. Leila M. de Lima, has been returned to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City from the Sablayan and Prison Farm (SPPF) in Occidental Mindoro on order of the regional trial court (RTC).

In a statement, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Tuesday, Oct. 17, that "prosecution witness and PDL Rodolfo Magleo was transferred to the NBP last Monday night."

BuCor said that "the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 26 granted Magleo's request that he be temporarily detained at the Minimum Security Compound of the NBP in Muntinlupa City.”

“The court also ordered the NBP to transfer in its  custody, Nonito Arile, one of the other PDL witness for the prosecution who was mentioned in Magleo's letter handed to the court, upon receipt of the court order,” it said. 

Of the three criminal charges, De Lima had been acquitted in two cases. The third and last case involved allegations that the former senator, as then secretary of justice, and her co-accused reportedly received P70 million in illegal drugs earnings reportedly collected by imprisoned narcotics traders of the NBP.

Magleo and Arile were among “high-profile” NBP's PDLs who were transferred to SPPF last August.

BuCor said that Magleo was supposed to be presented as a prosecution witness during the court’s hearing on Monday, Oct. 16.

However, BuCor said this did not push through after Magleo “handed a letter to the court dated Oct. 12, 2023 which substantially provides that he along with Arile are planning to recant their sworn affidavits that they have executed.”