Sen. Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) on Wednesday denied that Sergeant Jonel Sanchez was forced to sign an affidavit to pin down Sen. Leila de Lima for the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“To date, he has not signed any affidavit to that effect,” PSG spokesman Michael Aquino told reporters in a press briefing.
De Lima, in a hastily called press conference, quoted a reliable source, saying Sanchez was forced to sign an affidavit against her.
Sanchez was the former security detail of the senator during her stint as justice secretary.
Aquino said Sanchez, who was allegedly de Lima’s bagman in the drug trade, was already “confined to barracks” pending his investigation.
READ: Colangco: Security aide Sanchez is De Lima’s bagman
The PSG official said Sanchez already signified to have a counsel of his choice but has not presented one.
“He has signified to have a counsel preferably of his own choice, but up to now, he has not presented one,” he said.
“Since we fully respect his right to counsel, we have given him enough leverage to produce one,” he added.
Aquino said the text message received by de Lima from her source had no basis.
The PSG, he said, would cooperate on the congressional investigation, saying a member of the House Committee on Justice called him over the phone on Tuesday to invite Sanchez to their inquiry.
READ: PSG probes former De Lima aide’s alleged link to Bilibid drug trade
“Actually, napatawag ang House committee sa akin yesterday tapos magpadala raw sila ng (House committee called me yesterday for an) invitation for him,” he said.
Asked if they would allow Sanchez to testify, he said, “We will. We will. We will allow him.”
“Rest assured that PSG abides by the rule of law,” he said. RAM