Roque: Witnesses who recanted in De Lima case must be held accountable

MANILA, Philippines — The witnesses who recanted their testimonies against former Senator Leila de Lima must be held accountable, said former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday.

In an interview with the media, Roque was asked if he had spoken to former president Rodrigo Duterte since De Lima was allowed bail. The ex-Duterte spokesman said no, insisting that the former President had nothing to do with the case.

“Wala naman pakialam dito si Presidente Duterte, hindi po nagsampa ng kaso si President Duterte, hindi po siya nag-utos na sampahan ng kaso si Leila de Lima,” said Roque in an interview.

(Duterte has nothing to do with it. President Duterte did not file a case, and he did not tell anyone to file a case against Leila de Lima.)

Roque, who said in 2018 that he wished De Lima would spend the rest of her life in jail, was asked if he believed anyone in the past administration should be held accountable for the nearly seven years De Lima spent in prison.

“Ang panagutin po ay ang mga testigong nagsinungaling dahil kaya lang naman siya nakasuhan ay dahil sa mga testimonya ng napakadaming testigo na ngayon ay bumaliktad,” said Roque.

(The ones that should be held accountable are the witnesses who lied because the only reason there was a case against De Lima was because there were so many witnesses who have now recanted.)

Roque said that as a lawyer and officer of the law, he would respect the decision of the court, saying that it showed that the courts were independent.

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Who is lying — the President or Roque?