MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) The lawyer for two of the three suspects in a controversial drug case has admitted that he drafted the release order and sent it to the Department of Justice.
Felisberto Verano confirmed a statement by justice undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor who told the House of Representatives investigating the issue that the lawyer sent the document to his office for delivery to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.
In an interview after he filed a petition for habeas corpus for Joseph Tecson and Richard Brodett Tuesday, Verano said since it was Christmas time, he was “doing the boys a favor,” referring to his clients.
Verano admitted that what he did was not normal, but did not see anything wrong, saying that if Gonzalez did not sign it, then there was nothing he could do about it.
He said his conversation with Gonzalez who promised that he would study the resolution issued by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuńo gave him hope that the three suspects would be released.
Verano said what he did was “not influencing but simply facilitating” for the immediate release of Brodett, Joseph and Tecson.
"The letter was going to be signed by the Secretary of Justice. I just facilitated it," Verano said.
Asked how he got hold of the DOJ letterhead, Verano said "I got hold of it sometime in the past. I go in and out of the DOJ."
"I was doing the boys a favor," Verano said, pointing out that it was almost Christmas and since the case had been dismissed, he took the initiative to make the draft.
