De Lima not advised convict-witnesses were transferred out of NBP —lawyer

Senator Leila de Lima was not advised that seven convicts who are witnesses in the drug cases against her have been transferred from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa to the Marines’ barracks in Taguig, one of her lawyers said Friday.

There would be “nothing irregular” about the reported transfer “as long as court approval is secured,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra noted on Friday, but said he was “not sure” if a court actually issued an order.

De Lima’s lawyer Filibon Tacardon said they were not informed about the transfer.

“No, we were not advised of the said transfer and we have no information about any order issued by the court on this matter,” he said.

“We are not aware if such transfer is valid or legal,” Tacardon said in a statement, noting that they were not asked for consent and were unaware of the reason.

De Lima is facing charges of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court. She has long been trying to block, most recently before the Court of Appeals, 13 Bilibid prisoners from testifying against her, arguing they should be disqualified for having been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.

They are:

• Nonilo Arile

• Jojo Baligad

• Herbert Colanggo

• Engelberto Durano

• Rodolfo Magleo

• Vicente Sy

• Hans Tan

• Froilan Trestiza

• Peter Co

• Noel Martinez

• Joel Capones

• German Agojo

• Jaime Patcho

The convicts-turned-witnesses are serving sentences for crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and sale of illegal drugs.

On Thursday night, CNN Philippines reported that Tan, Co, Baligad, Sy, Trestiza, Arile, and Capones were seven out of the 10 prisoners who were ordered transferred from the national penitentiary to the Philippine Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Fort Bonifacio last June.

The order was reportedly approved by Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon, who was fired this week by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Tacardon said he learned of this development only in the news. He intends to discuss its possible implications with the rest of De Lima’s legal team.

‘No special treatment’

Asked about the reported transfer, the Justice secretary said he was informed “a long time ago” about a proposal to transfer the prisoners to a “more secure location” in a Marines facility.

“As long as court approval is secured I guess that should be okay, because the intention is not to provide any special treatment but to secure, precisely, these people who are in my understanding or recollection will be or are witnesses in an existing case,” Guevarra said in a chance interview at the Department of Justice.

“So it’s not for the purpose of giving them special treatment. But because their personal security is under threat,” he told reporters.

But the Justice chief said he was “not privy” to whether or not “appropriate documentation was done or court approval was secured.”

He also does not have information on whether the 10 inmates would be returned to the New Bilibid Prison, saying these are “operational matters” and that the DOJ does not interfere with the BuCor’s day-to-day operations. —VDS, GMA News