Aguirre denies Marcelino being coerced to testify vs De Lima

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday denied the allegations of former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima that Marine Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino is being coerced to testify against her.

READ: De Lima says ex-PDEA exec being pressured to speak against her

“There is no truth to that claim,’ Aguirre said in a text message when sought for comment.

The justice chief said he only learned of the resolution over the news.

“I did not even know about that resolution until I read it in the news,” Aguirre added.

On the other hand, Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said the resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by the Philippine National Police-Anti Illegal Drugs Group and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency did not come up to the level of the secretary.

“Procedurally, hindi naman po sa level ni Secretary Aguirre pa iyan (It did not reach the level of Secretary Aguirre). Ang office of the secretary po ay hindi involved dyan (The office of the secretary is not involved there),” Balmes said.

Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez signed the resolution ordering the filing of drug charges against Marcelino and his Chinese companion Yan Yi Shou.

The DOJ’s September resolution reversed the June 21 resolution that cleared Marcelino and Yan of drug charges.

Balmes said Marcelino can still appeal the reversal of the earlier DOJ resolution before the office of Aguirre. RAM/rga