Legal counsel: Prosecution witness denied transacting with, identifying De Lima

Prosecution witness and convicted murderer Joel Capones denied in open court that he had transacted with, nor did he identify, Senator Leila De Lima, her legal counsel said Monday.

“Sa aming cross examination, dalawang major points ang tingin namin na naipalabas namin kay Joel Capones,” Lawyer Filibon Racardon told reporters in an ambush interview.

(In our cross-examination, we can say we drew out two major points from Joel Capones.)

“Una is inamin niya sa kanyang cross examination na wala syang transaksyon at hindi nya kakilala si Senator De Lima at kung meron man siyang naging transaksyon, engaged sa illegal drug trade, ito ay kay Jaybee Sebastian lang,” he said.

(First, he admitted in his cross-examination that there was no transaction and he did not identify Sen. De Lima. If he was in any drug transaction, it was with Jaybee Sebastian.)

“Ang masakit nga lang dyan, dahil wala na, namatay na si Jaybee Sebastian, wala nang makakapag-suporta sa sinasabi nyang transaksyon nya tungkol sa ilegal na droga,” he added.

(What hurts is with Jaybee Sebastian’s death, there’s no one to support the  transaction claim.)

De Lima has been detained since February 2017 for allegedly abetting the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) when she was serving as the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2016. She has since denied the accusation.

In 2021, Capones testified that he saw de Lima receive P1.4-million in drug money from high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian when she visited him inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City in 2014.

But when asked about the transaction, Racardon said Capones only asked: “Anong pera?” (what money?)

“Hindi natin alam paano iyon na-interpret ng Korte, yung bago na testimony ni Joel Capones,” said Racardon.

(We don’t know how the court will interpret that, the new testimony from Joel Capones.)

With another witness rejecting his initial testimony, De Lima’s camp believed the prosecution did not have “strong” evidence and their motion for bail may finally be granted.

Confessed drug lord Kerwin Espiniosa and former Bureau of Corrections Chief Rafael Ragos previously recanted their allegations against the legislator.

“We believe na wala pang matibay na ebidensya na naipapalabas ang Prosecution na magju-justify ng continued detention ni Senator De Lima habang dinidinig yung kaso na ito. So hintayin natin yung salaysay, yung magiging testimonya ni Herbert Colanggo at Jojo Baligas,” said

(We believe the prosecution doesn’t have strong evidence to justify her continued detention while the hearings are ongoing. We will wait for the testimonies of Herbert Colanggo and Jojo Baligas.)

“Si Herbert Colanggo, may sinasabi siyang nagbigay siya ng pera. Si Jojo Baligad wala naman kami natatandaan na sinabi niyang statement or sa kanyang mga salaysay na nagbigay siya ng pera kay Senator De Lima,” he said.

(Herbert Colanggo, said he gave the money. As for Jojo Baligad, we can’t recall anything from his remarks that he gave money to Senator de Lima.)

The senator’s camp had previously tried to post bail but a Muntinlupa court rejected it.

After requesting the DOJ to review and withdraw the drug charges against her, Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the department would give it “serious consideration”. He, however, stressed the legislator may only be allowed temporary freedom through bail.

Racardon said the next hearing for De Lima’s case with Capones was scheduled on June 13 and June 27. Meanwhile, another case involving De Lima’s driver Ronnie Dayan is scheduled on June 17. — DVM, GMA News