Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. EDWIN BACASMAS/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Friday said that he did not meddle in the filing of Department of Justice (DOJ) of three drug-related cases against Senator Leila De Lima.
“Hindi po ako nakialam dito… wala pong irregularities na nangyari, ito po ay masasabi kong hindi ako nakialam dito,” Aguirre said in a press briefing.
(I did not meddle in this…there were no irregularities, I can say that I did not meddle in this.)
“Hindi po ito pulitika, hindi po ito produkto ng pulitika, ito po ay produkto ng trading sa droga,” he added.
(This is not politics, this is not politically motivated. This is a product of the drug trade.)
The DOJ earlier filed charges against Senator De Lima at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court in connection with the senator’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs when she was still Justice Secretary.
READ: DOJ files drug raps against De Lima
The charges were for violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act, Section 5, penalizing the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation” of illegal drugs. The violator may face 12 years life imprisonment and fines of P500,000 up to P10,000,000.
Aguirre also clarified that the cases were nonbailable.
When asked about the issuance of warrant, Aguirre said that the judge will still have to carefully assess the case, and cited that it is the court’s duty, not the DOJ’s.
“Pwede (mag-issue ng warrant), kung malinaw sa ating hukom ang probable cause, kung malinaw sa kanya na nagkasala talaga ang taong ito. Iyon lamang po ang judicial probable cause na hinihingi natin,” he said.
(A warrant will be issued if there is probable cause, if it’s clear that the accused really committed a violation. That is the only judicial probable cause we are looking for.)
Aguirre on Monday called the senator irresponsible for claiming that the DOJ is expediting the issuance of a warrant of arrest against her. IDL
READ: De Lima irresponsible for claiming DOJ expediting arrest —Aguirre