De Lima twits Aguirre: Who’s the real protector of drug lords? 

Senator Leila de Lima on Friday scored Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II as the “real protector and coddler” of drug lords for supposedly allowing special privileges of high-profile inmates detained at Camp Aguinaldo. 

De Lima said Aguirre could have “concealed or suppressed” the confidential memorandum of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which states that the Justice secretary authorized the use of electronic gadgets in exchange for the testimony of convicted drug lords during a House probe on the Bilibid drug trade. 

“How can we expect Aguirre to investigate himself? As I see it, it's possible that they concealed or suppressed those documents as the facts disclosed therein, especially the December 9 confidential memo, are very sensitive as they are explosive,” De Lima said. 

“So, sino ngayon ang mga tunay na protector and coddler of drug convicts [and] drug lords?,” she added. 

De Lima is being accused by the Duterte administration of being a protector of drug lords during her term as Justice secretary. 

It was De Lima who first claimed having proof that Aguirre restored the privileges of high-profile inmates for testifying against her in a House committee investigation. 

In a BuCor memo dated December 9, 2016, legal office chief Alvin Herrera Lim reported about the inmates use of electronic gadgets, among others, inside the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Custodial and Detention Center. 

“We were informed that based on AFP's confidential investigation, the high profile inmates detained in AFP Custodial and Detention Center continue to enjoy lavish lifestyles e.g. use of electronic gadgets, smart television sets, air conditiong units, internet, cellular phones,” Lim said.

“When pressed for comment, elements of both [the Philippine National Police] and BuCor invoked that they are just following the express instruction of the Hon. Vitaliano N. Aguirre II to allow the entry of the above-enumerated gadgets in return for the testimony they gave during the congressional inquiry on the proliferation of drugs inside New Bilbid Prison,” the memo said.

De Lima said Aguirre should confirm whether or not his office received a copy of the memo through BuCor chief Director General Benjamin delos Santos. 

“Dapat sagutin ni Aguirre yung tanong — natanggap ba n'ya o ng opisina n'ya 'yung mga docs na yan? If so, ano ang ginawa n'ya, kung mayroon man? Bakit ngayon lang siya nag-uutos na imbestigahan 'yang mga kontrabando na 'yan?," De Lima said. 

“Those documents speak for themselves. This yet again another scandal in this administration should be seriously and thoroughly investigated. Enough of their deceptions and hypocrisies!,” she added. 

Aguirre had already directed Delos Santos to conduct an investigation into the matter. 

He also claims that the memo was only based on “hearsay,” as he questioned the motive of Lim. 

“Kinukwestiyon ko rin po 'yung kanyang alleged findings through this hearsay testimony,” Aguirre said. — MDM, GMA News