Another government witness in the last remaining drug case against former senator Leila de Lima has expressed his intention to recant his testimonies against her, saying he was disturbed by his conscience.
Retired Brig. Gen. Jerry Valeroso of the Philippine National Police (PNP) wrote a letter dated Dec. 18 to Presiding Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 informing him of his intention to recant his statement against De Lima.
Former senator Leila de Lima at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice (Contributed photo)
“I would like to inform this Honorable court that the undersigned is decided to recant his testimony he testified before in this court against Ex-Sen. Laila DE lima et. al in the Criminal Case # 17-167 for several and justified reasons,” said Valeroso.
He said he wants to recant his statements “a) To set free all accused who were wrongfully charged in this court. b) To disclose the real truthfulness that the criminal complaints filed against accuses are pure Hearsay and full of lies.”
Valeroso said he wanted to recant as early as 2019 but feared for his life and the safety of his family.
“Because I was disturbed by my conscience, I planned to recant in early 2019. However, due to fearing for my life and the safety of my family and loved one, I lost the guts to do so,” he said.
He told the court that he will submit “the official affidavit of recantation as soon I consult my lawyer who will assist me in the preparations of my official recantation.”
Valeroso testified in case 17-167, which accused De Lima and others of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading. Her co-accused in the case are former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez and Jose Adrian Dera.
In the case, the DOJ charged that between March 2013 to May 2015, the accused used inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa to sell and trade dangerous drugs using mobile phones and other electronic devices, and allegedly got the proceeds amounting to P70 million.
Gito granted bail amounting to P300,000 each to De Lima and her co-accused last November. They were released from detention.
In 2018, Valeroso testified for the government in case 17-167.
Boni Tacardon, De Lima’s legal counsel, said in 2018 that Valeroso claimed "that he saw P65 million worth of drug proceeds at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). The money was allegedly inside the luxury prison cell of convicted Chinese drug lord Sam Li Chua who told him that it was for the senatorial bid of then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.”
Nine persons deprived of liberty (PDL), who are government witnesses in cases vs De Lima, have expressed their intention to recant their statements against her.
Gito ordered the nine PDL witnesses and two others to be transferred from the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm to NBP.