Marine Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino could be used as witness against detained Senator Leila de Lima, Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said yesterday.
Aguirre explained that Marcelino, a former official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), could testify in the three drug charges filed against De Lima in connection with the proliferation of narcotics at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Aguirre said he will let Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta to discuss the matter with Marcelino.
The PAO represented Marcelino in the drug possession case which was recently dismissed by the DoJ, a move that led to his release from detention.
“Bahala sila mag-usap dalawa. Siya ang lawyer. If they could use him, eh di gagawin po natin ‘yun,” the secretary said.
Aguirre said Marcelino can testify as to why De Lima excluded the PDEA from the raids she conducted at the NBP when she was still the justice secretary. (Jeffrey G. Damicog)