5 high-profile inmates of New Bilibid Prison were freed from their charges on illegal drug trade to act as state witnesses against Senator Leila de Lima.
Drug charges against Herbert Colanggo, Engelbert Durano, Vicente Sy, Jojo Baligad, and Peter Co were dismissed so “they will be utilized as prosecution witnesses,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in a press briefing on Friday.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a resolution stating that a special panel of prosecutors freed top drug criminals of the National Penitentiary from charges of violation of Section 5 of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
"Wala akong pinakialaman dito, hindi ako kinonsulta. This is the product of the 5-man prosecutorial panel,” Aguirre said.
De Lima faces 3 counts of violation of Sections 5 and 28 of the Drugs Act for allowing the illegal drug trade to perpetuate inside NBP during his term as justice secretary.
Section 5 penalizes the "sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of illegal drugs," while Section 28 imposes maximum penalties of government officials found guilty of the unlawful act.
Source: Rappler
Image: Philippine Star | ABS-CBN | Inquirer
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