20 Sep Six Bilibid Inmates Were Granted Immunity As they Testify Against De Lima
An immunity for the six New Bilibid Prisons inmates, who are high-profile convicts, was granted by the leadership of the House of Representatives for testifying at the inquiry into the drug trade.
The immunity was granted to the witnesses namely Rafael Ragos, Jovencio Blando, Rodolfo Magleo, Joel Capones, Jaime Pacho and Herbert Colangco as proposed by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. As he spoke, “I appeal to the honorable members of the community that these witnesses be given immunity.”
The inmates are aware and informed of the illegal transaction with Sen. Leila de Lima regarding the drug trade inside the Bilibid, Aguirre claimed.
On September 20, Tuesday, a letter read by Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas at the House justice committee hearing, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez showed his approval for the Department of Justice’s proposal to put the high-profile convicts under witness protection and immune from prosecution.
Alvarez stated in the letter, “I hereby grant approval for you admission with your express consent to the witness protection security and benefit act under section 12 of the aforementioned act is shall be entitled to immunity from any and all criminal prosecution for the offense or offenses in which your testimony will be given or used.”
Fariñas responded to Aguirre’s earlier proposal saying that the immunity should depend on the witnesses’ testimony. Yet, the congressman later decided that legal protection is needed to their part in the inquiry.
He stated, “I move that the committee recommend to the speaker that these witnesses will be afforded the protection under section four of the Republic Act 6981.”
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