Detained former senator Leila de Lima attends the hearing for the prosecution to present rebuttal evidence against her in Muntinlupa City Friday morning. (Photo from Atty. Leila de Lima’s office)
MANILA, Philippines — A Muntinlupa court has reopened for a day the trial for one of the two remaining drug cases filed against detained former Senator Leila de Lima.
In an order dated April 24, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara granted the prosecution’s motion to reopen the trial to allow the presentation of rebuttal evidence with the testimony of lawyer Demiteer Huerta of the Public Attorney’s Office.
READ: DOJ wants to present new witness vs De Lima
On April 17, the prosecution and the defense agreed to terminate the presentation of evidence.
But the prosecution filed a motion for reconsideration asking that it be allowed to present a rebuttal witness citing the need to present evidence to counter the “overwhelming import of new facts disclosed by the defense.
Huerta was mentioned by Rafael Ragos, former officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) as among those who assisted him in executing an affidavit stating that he delivered millions of money to de Lima from drug convicts in the NBP.
Last year, Ragos issued another affidavit retracting his allegations against de Lima.
“I beg the forgiveness of these innocent persons who suffered from my transgression of bearing false witness against them. I hope they find it in their heart to do so, knowing that I was only forced to transgress against them to save my own life. May God help me,” Ragos said.
The defense opposed the bid of the prosecution, saying Ragos was subjected to lengthy cross-examination and four full morning hearing dates to debunk his testimony.
But the court, in its order, said allowing the reopening of a case for reception of rebuttal evidence is upon its discretion.
“It is a judicial action which is controlled only by the utmost interest of justice,” the court said.
“The court does not shrink from its responsibility to receive evidence in order to ferret out the truth,” it added.
But the court said it sticks to the original schedule of promulgating the case on May 12, 2023 “so as not to cause any delay in this case.”
Trial of this case has been going on for six years.
De Lima, a fierce critic of former and then president Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained in Camp Crame, Quezon City since 2017 for her alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade at the NBP during her stint as Justice Secretary.
She has repeatedly denied the accusations.
In February 2021, de Lima was acquitted on one of the three drug cases filed against her.
