Inmate Colanggo says he remains a witness vs. De Lima

Convicted drug dealer Herbert Colanggo on Monday said he remains a witness for the government in connection with drug charges filed against former Senator Leila de Lima.

“Opo, opo, opo [yes, yes, yes],” Colanggo said when asked by GMA News Online if he will still testify against De Lima, but was not able to elaborate after his security personnel brought him inside the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) bus.

Colanggo was brought to the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Monday shortly before 1:30 p.m., the schedule for De Lima’s trial. His purpose in the court was unclear.

De Lima's trial, however, was postponed an hour earlier after she tested positive for COVID-19.

Colanggo stayed inside the courtroom for at least an hour and a half before he came out with tight security.

One of the high profile government witnesses against De Lima, former Deputy Director Rafael Ragos of the National Bureau of Investigation, already recanted his testimony against the erstwhile senator.

Ragos, who also served as Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge, said he only made the accusations against De Lima since he was threatened by then-Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

Aguirre has denied coercing Ragos into testifying against De Lima.

During last week’s trial, Ragos was able to see De Lima in person and apologized to her, saying “I’m really sorry, natakot talaga ako nun.”  

His counsel, Michael de Castro, said after last week’s hearing that the government has yet to present proof that Ragos was not coerced to testify against De Lima. 

"Para masabing walang coercion, isa lang ang pruwebang hinihingi ng Constitution: Written and signed waiver of Miranda rights," De Castro said after the cross examination of Ragos before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Friday.

The Miranda doctrine, as provided by the Supreme Court ruling on Philippines vs. Mojello case, requires that: (a) any person under custodial investigation has the right to remain silent; (b) anything he says can and will be used against him in a court of law; (c) he has the right to talk to an attorney before being questioned and to have his counsel present when being questioned; and (d) if he cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided before any questioning if he so desires."

"Kung meron nun [waiver of Miranda rights], sana ilabas na nila," De Castro said.

(If Ragos has a waiver of Miranda rights, they should show it.)

The government has filed three conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade charges against De Lima. Three charges were filed because the government alleges that she committed the same offense in different timeframes.

One of these charges was already dismissed by Muntinlupa RTC in February 2021 due to weak evidence.

De Lima has denied all charges, saying these are all politically motivated because of her criticism of the drug killings during the Duterte administration. —KBK, GMA Integrated News