Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said yesterday that high- profile inmates who will be presented before the House of Representatives will testify that Sen. Leila de Lima received drug money to fund her campaign in the last elections.
“Isisiwalat nila sa House pag-collect ng pera para support at bigay kay De Lima para sa kanyang pagtakbo ng senador,” said Aguirre.
He identified two of the inmates as convicted bank robber Herbert “Ampang” Colangco and convicted kidnapper Noel Martinez.
Aguirre said that they voluntarily offered their testimonies and added that videos were taken while they were writing their affidavits by hand in the presence of lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office who administered their oaths.
Based on their statements, Aguirre said that De Lima started receiving money in 2013 when she was still Justice Secretary.
He learned from them that they were instructed by convicted carnapper and kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian to sell drugs and the earnings will be used to fund the senatorial campaign of De Lima.
Aguirre also found that De Lima had been to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City eight times in a disguise.
“Mga walong beses dyan. Naka-kwan pa siya, naka-disguise,” he said. “Wala siyang dinadaan. Diretso sya doon sa kubol ni Jaybee Sebastian,” he said. (JEFFREY G. DAMICOG)