DOJ eyes Marcelino as witness vs De Lima
epartment of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said yesterday that Marine Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino could be used as witness against detained Senator Leila de Lima.
Aguirre explained Marcelino, who had been an official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), could be used to testify in the three drug charges De Lima is currently facing in connection with the proliferation of narcotics at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
“Kung saka-sakali gamitin pag-testify, as additional witness (If he will be used he can be utilized as additional witness),” said the DOJ chief.
Aguirre said he will leave it up to 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 and resulted to his release.
“Bahala sila mag-usap dalawa. Siya ang lawyer. If they could use him, eh di gagawin po natin yun (It’s up to them to talk. Acosta is his lawyer. If he can be used then we will do it),” 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 Justice Secretary.
“Why was PDEA left out dun sa galugad na ginawa niya (in the raids she conducted),” said Aguirre.
Marcelino, he said, could also testify on the time when De Lima visited the marine official in detention at Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame when she was still DOJ secretary.
“If he will testify para makita natin kung bakit siya dumalaw, yung conversation (we want to know why she visited, their conversation),” said Aguirre.
In an affidavit he made, Marcelino recounted being visited by de Lima at the PNP Custodial Center to discuss a raid of a shabu laboratory in Camiling, Tarlac which was discovered through his counter-intelligence operation.
“We discussed operation in the clandestine laboratory in Tarlac and the possible infiltration of the drug syndicate in the political leadership of which she said to me, ‘I can assure you the President is not involved,” read his affidavit.
“I was stunned when she mentioned the president, when I did not even state his name nor even allude to him at that time,” he added in the affidavit.
Meanwhile, Marcelino said that it is up to President Duterte if ever he will be given any unit, following his release from detention in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, late Thursday.
“President (Rodrigo) Duterte is my Commander-in-Chief. Who am I to refuse him whatever he will ask or order me to do?” said Marcelino.
Now that he is a free man, Marcelino said he is waiting for instructions from his superiors from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on what position he will hold in the military.
“My retirement is still in 2029. If God will allow me, with my physical capacity in health, if he will give me the strength... the passion that I have in the service has not dwindled or subsided,” he added.
Marcelino said as a soldier whatever the AFP tells him to do, officials who has authority over him, he will just follow them.