Convicts to pin down De Lima in alleged Bilibid drug trade
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre announces that NBI Deputy Dir. Rafael Ragos and members of Bilibid druglords will testify against Senator Leila Delima in her involvement in the drug dealings inside the Bilibid prisons while she was DOJ Secretary, at the Congress today. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Tuesday named the high-profile convicts at the New Bilibid Prison and a government official who would pin down Senator Leila De Lima in the alleged illegal drug trade.
During the House of Representatives justice committee investigating the proliferation of drugs at the national penitentiary, Aguirre in his opening statement enumerated the following witnesses against De Lima.
READ: Top NBI exec lined up vs De Lima
Aguirre named the following convicts to testify against De Lima – robbery convict Herbert Colangco and kidnap-for-ransom convict Jaybee Sebastian.
Aguirre said Colangco was ordered by Sebastian to sell drugs in the Bilibid to raise funds for De Lima’s senatorial bid.
Article continues after this advertisementAguirre called Sebastian as one of the “financiers” of De Lima’s senatorial campaign.
Article continues after this advertisementHe added that witness Noel Martinez would testify that Sebastian introduced gang leaders to De Lima in 2013.
Aguirre said Martinez was told by Sebastian that De Lima needed funds for the latter’s senatorial campaign.
“Jaybee Sebastian ordered the centralization of drug sale and required other gang leaders in exchange for protection and special treatment,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre said NBI deputy director general Rafael Ragos, an officer in charge at the Bureau of Corrections, would testify that he had delivered a black bag containing P5 million to De Lima’s house in Paranaque. Also present was De Lima’s alleged lover, driver and bagman Ronnie Dayan.
“He will testify that in 2012, he brought a black bag containing money … containing limang manok, in Bilbid language for P5 million, to Ronnie Dayan,” Aguirre said.
Nbi witnesses during the congress hearing. RICHARD REYES/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
Aguirre said Ragos’ driver-escort Jun Ablen would also testify that they delivered money to De Lima and Dayan in De Lima’s house in Parañaque.
Aguirre said Ragos delivered P5 million twice to De Lima for a total of P10 million.
Retired police major Rodolfo Magleo would testify that Sebastian paid millions of pesos to De Lima.
The other witnesses are Bilibid inmates Joel Capones and Jaime Patcho. CDG
