High-profile convicts brought to NBI following reports of P100-M bribe offer

At least five high profile convicts detained at Camp Aguinaldo were brought to the National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday night following reports that they were offered P100 million to recant their testimonies on Sen. Leila de Lima's alleged drug links.

A report on GMA News' Unang Balita said among those brought to the NBI were inmates Herbert Colanggo, Rodolfo Magleo, Engelberto Durano, Edgar Cinco and Clarence Dongail.

The NBI has yet to give details about the matter.

On Thursday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II himself bared the offer for the inmates to retract their testimonies against De Lima, who is now under police custody due to drug trading charges before a Muntinlupa City court, on or before February 25.

He said former Senator Jamby Madrigal and Laguna Rep. Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat were behind the offer, which has since been rejected by the inmates.

Aguirre said the inmates were offered to recant so that opponents of the government could use it to drum up support for another people power revolt.

Alonte has denied Aguirre's allegation. 

De Lima has also dismissed Aguirre's claim, branding it as "another outlandish and hysterical story being fed to the media."

She challenged the Cabinet official to show proof, "otherwise he too should shut up."

"Obviously, it should not warrant any air time or editorial space unless Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre can provide verifiable proof, and not just mere hearsay," she said. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News