Cavite Rep. Remulla says recanting of 3 witnesses in De Lima case a ‘red flag’
MANILA, Philippines — Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, who is set to be the next Department of Justice (DOJ) chief, on Tuesday said the retraction of three witnesses on opposition Sen. Leila de Lima’s drug case is “a red flag.”
“That’s already a cause of concern, that is a red flag that there is something wrong,” Remulla said over CNN Philippines.
READ: Kerwin Espinosa recants drug trade accusations vs Sen. Leila de Lima
Three witnesses — namely self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, and her former aide and co-accused Ronnie Dayan — have recently recanted their testimonies where they linked the then-Justice secretary to drug activities inside the New Bilibid Prison.
READ: Another witness retracts accusations vs De Lima, says he was ‘coerced’
When asked if he was willing to review De Lima’s drug cases once he assumes the DOJ top post after accepting the offer of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Remulla replied: “Of course.”
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Dayan: Umali forced me to testify vs De Lima
Article continues after this advertisementIn 2021, the court dismissed one of three drug charges against De Lima, but the senator remains detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center inside Camp Crame.
De Lima has since conceded after failing to secure a seat in a senatorial derby. The senator, however, said she will now “focus on the dismissal of the fabricated drug cases” against her.
READ: After failed Senate bid, De Lima to focus on dismissal of drug cases
