Senator Leila De Lima. AP File Photo
The minority bloc in Congress urged their colleagues to recommend criminal charges against Senator Leila De Lima for her alleged involvement into the illicit drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, the minority bloc led by minority leader Quezon Rep. Danny Suarez questioned the report released by the House justice committee finding De Lima liable but falling short in recommending criminal charges.
READ: House justice body: Bilibid drugs flourished under De Lima’s watch
Suarez said he was puzzled why Congress during the previous administrations recommended charges following its investigations in aid of legislation, but the 17th Congress won’t recommend charges against De Lima.
“Can we ask why there were recommendations during the past administration, and none now? Aren’t we all legislators? Weren’t these investigations all in aid of legislation?” Suarez said.
Suarez said he does not think the justice committee report would be approved in today’s plenary session, which would prioritize the third reading approval of the proposed 2017 General Appropriations Act.
Suarez also lamented that the committee report did not give “closure” to the investigation.
“Ang hinihingi ng minority is a closure,” Suarez said.
For his part, Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said the report was defective because it did not state the House position for the indictment of De Lima for her involvement in the drug trade.
“Ang sinasabi namin ‘yung kanilang report, defective. It’s neither here nor there,” Atienza said.
Suarez said the minority would make a dissenting opinion to the committee report.
In its report, the House of Representatives justice committee said it was able to establish that the illicit drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) flourished under the watch of then justice secretary now Senator De Lima.
The committee said “the investigation has clearly established the proliferation of drug syndicates and illegal drug trade in the NBP during the watch of then-DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima.”
The committee released its report in concluding its grueling inquiry into the proliferation of drugs at the Bilibid, which took 47 hours divided in four days.
All the witnesses, who were convicts and inmates at the Bilibid, pointed at De Lima’s involvement in the proliferation of drugs at the national penitentiary. JE