Ex-DOJ exec tags Leila
The secretary of justice had ultimate responsibility over the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Former justice undersecretary Francisco Baraan III washed his hands yesterday of involvement in drug trafficking by NBP convicts in the previous administration, saying Sen. Leila de Lima, as justice secretary, had overall supervision over the national prisons.
This developed as President Duterte continued his attacks on De Lima yesterday, saying “she was on the take” from drug lords at the NBP where she was part of a “matrix” that included Baraan, a provincial governor who served time in the prison, a police superintendent and her former driver Ronnie Dayan.
Baraan was appointed to the Department of Justice in September 2010 and resigned in November last year. He stressed all his actions in the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which has supervision over the NBP, had the approval of De Lima.
“Folders of BuCor contracts/ documents on my desk endorsed and reviewed by technical services, with the latter’s corresponding recommendation, are reviewed by me, then I countersign the action document for the secretary’s final signature,” he said.
Baraan clarified his role in the NBP and BuCor as the supervising undersecretary in the previous ad- ministration.
“The BuCor is just one of several DOJ agencies under my limited administrative supervision... I never did oversee, either on the ground or from a distance, the prison operations in the seven penal colonies, more so the NBP,” he explained.
Baraan issued the statement amid reports that he would face investigation for collecting drug money along with De Lima and Dayan. Baraan vowed to clear his name.
“All I ask is fairness and due process, a chance to vindicate myself in a formal proceeding. If a complaint will be filed, then I will have the opportunity to present my side,” Baraan stressed.
President Duterte on Tuesday bared the “matrix” of drug operations inside the NBP, which he said was based on information and evidence gathered by authorities.
Duterte also said Baraan and Dayan could turn state witnesses
against De Lima.
‘Sexual escapades’
Duterte, in a mix of personal and political attacks, yesterday said De Lima allowed the irregularities, including the trafficking of shabu, at the NBP when she was justice secretary.
“She ( De Lima) was on the take. She would not have allowed those things to happen for nothing? You must be kidding. They were awash with shabu that time. Everyone was using it and they were enjoying the trappings of the wealthy,” Duterte said yesterday.
Duterte claimed De Lima’s “sexual escapades” had compelled her to violate the law and to grant special privileges to prisoners at the national penitentiary.
“Here is a woman posturing as a crusader for good government but because she cannot control her immorality – to the credit of De Lima, she’s legally annulled…she is single. But her sex escapades led her to commit several serious violations of law,” he said.
On Tuesday, Duterte revealed De Lima is the highestranking official in the matrix of “narco officials” he would present this week.
Duterte also claimed the senator had built a house for Dayan in Barangay Galarin in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.
De Lima has vehemently denied the charges, saying Duterte’s allegations could be revenge for her previous investigation on his alleged involvement in the Davao death squad killings when he was mayor and she the chair of the Commission on Human Rights.
She has denied having links with narcotics but admitted that there were “snippets of truth” in the President’s allegations. She also claimed Duterte was defaming her because of her criticisms against his anti-drug war, which critics claimed have led to extralegal executions.
Duterte has yet to present evidence to support his accusations against De Lima.
“De Lima is angry because she got caught. All of her shenanigans even in bed are coming out,” Duterte said.
New boyfriend
While he claimed he was exposing De Lima’s affair because of its connection to drugs, Duterte could not help but reveal more personal details about his nemesis.
He said De Lima has a new boyfriend but said he had nothing to do with illegal drugs.
“Ask De Lima if she has a new boyfriend. If she refuses to name her new boyfriend, I will be the one to give the name,” Duterte told a press conference in Antipolo, Rizal.
Duterte later identified De Lima’s new lover as a certain “Warren,” a motorcycle constable of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Duterte said former MMDA chairman and defeated senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino, who was edged out by De Lima for the last Senate slot in the elections, relayed the information to him.
Duterte hinted De Lima’s private moments were even caught on camera.
“These were not (manipulated). The man intentionally did it. You will see the angles,” he said.
“Because of her pitfalls, she cannot control her urges. They call it tsuk-tsak,” the President said, using slang for sex.
Asked if Warren is involved in drugs, Duterte replied: “None.”
Duterte could not say if Warren is married.