JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said the justice department would look into the suggestion of detained Sen. Leila de Lima to prosecute for illegal drug trade one of the witnesses in the drug case filed against her before a Muntinlupa regional trial court (RTC).
De Lima was referring to Joel Capones, an inmate at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), who was presented as one of the prosecution witnesses before the Muntinlupa City RTC, Branch 205 in connection with one of the drug cases filed against her.
In her letter to Guevarra last February 22, de Lima noted that Capones testified in the witness stand that he, together with his 13 “majors” in Sigue Sigue Sputnik, committed illegal drug trading within the NBP from January to October 2014.
Capones claimed that fellow NBP inmate Jaybee Sebastian prodded him to engage in illegal drug trading to raise funds to support the senatorial bid of the former justice secretary.
Capones admitted that he indeed transacted illegal drugs or shabu to heed the directive of Sebastian because he was convinced and impressed with the latter’s apparent strong influence with the previous administration, particularly with de Lima.
Capones narrated that in March 2014, during the anniversary of the Commando Sigue-Sigue organization, he delivered the amount of P1.4 million to Sebastian as quota payment of the shabu drugs that he sold.
Capones claimed that he personally witnessed Sebastian handed over to de Lima the P1.4 million that he delivered to the alleged drug lord.
However, de Lima pointed out that despite his claim, Capones was not included as an accused in the said drug case or any drug case for that matter.
“It is ironic that despite the Duterte administration’s supposed dedication to the ‘war on drugs,’ convicted felons are still able to appear and testify under oath that they in fact committed illegal trading and yet remain free from prosecution,” de Lima told Guevarra.
“The inaction of the Department of Justice in holding Mr. Capones to account for his self-confessed criminal acts, despite knowledge of his culpability, is a serious dereliction of duty and puts in questions the seriousness of the Duterte administration’s resolve in fighting crime and illegal drugs,” De Lima added.
De Lima urged Guevarra to use all powers under his office to prosecute Capones and anyone who has been involved in illegal drug trade inside the NBP.
Responding to De Lima’s letter, Guevarra said : “I have read Senator de Lima’s letter this morning and I’ll take the matter that she brought to my attention under advisement.”
De Lima has denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the NBP during her term.
She claimed that the charges and her imprisonment was politically motivated being a staunch critic of President Duterte.