MANILA (Updated) -- President Rodrigo Duterte released on Thursday the “drug matrix” which showed how Senator Leila De Lima had allegedly allowed illegal drug sale inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
In a matrix released early yesterday, the President revealed De Lima's connivance with Ronnie Dayan, her alleged driver/lover, since she was chair of the Commission on Human Rights up to her tenure as Justice secretary.
De Lima quickly responded to Duterte's revelation.
In a press conference following the release of what Duterte called the "Muntinlupa Matrix," de Lima shrugged off the allegation saying it was "the worst matrix of all time" that "belongs to the garbage can."
“Even a 12-year-old can draw such a thing. As I have often said, I will not dignify any further this so-called drug matrix, which any ordinary lawyers know too well, properly belongs to the garbage can,” the senator said.
Duterte showed to the public the matrix, allegedly linking De Lima to six individuals who supposedly have drug connections, including former Pangasinan governor and now fifth District Representative Amado Espino.
Duterte said the matrix will "end" de Lima's career in government service, and that the senator was having a "nightmare" over his revelation.
“You know, de Lima is undergoing a nightmare now.
That’s enough for me... De Lima, you are finished. In the next election, you have no [career at all]," he said.
But de Lima appeared unfazed, saying the attack from the President did not surprise her anymore, but said Duterte will "surely regret" it.
“Was it a joke? Like most of his jokes before, this latest one, he will surely regret. It does not surprise me anymore to hear it from someone who had long professed to destroy me at all cost. Like the many tirades thrown at me, these are bound to fail again with all of these trumped-up accusations and worst matrix of all time,” the senator said.
“Can't they come up with something better than this? Something more professional looking? This belongs in the garbage,” de Lima said in separate statement.
The senator added she does not considered those who are in the list as close to her or connected to her.
She questioned the direction of the arrow that connects her to Espino.
"Lahat din ng arrows ay tumtuturo sa isang tao- kay Governor Amado Espino. Pinapalabas ba nila na indirectly, nagre-report ako kay Governor Espino?," she said.
She said this is the last time she will talk about the allegations against her, as she will focus on the senate hearing on the rampant extrajudicial killings.
"Napapagod na po ako. Sabi ko nga sa inyo kahapon ayaw na nga ng pamilya ko at ng malalapit na kaibigan ko na magsalita pa ako tungkol dito dahil humahaba na dahil eveytime I speak the next day the president holds a presscon," she said.
Dayan, an alleged drug user in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan, was known as “Boss De Lima” or “case fixer” in the said municipality.
Dayan is allegedly seen frequently inside cockpit areas in Pangasinan and had used a certain Ms. Cardenosa, a local government employee in Urbiztondo, as his dummy of all his properties.
The matrix also showed that Dayan allegedly received a monthly payola from former Bureau of Correction (BuCor) chief General Franklin Bucayo through SPO1 Palisoc of Provincial Regional Office 1.
Bucayo allegedly resigned as BuCor chief because of his supposed involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.
Former Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III was also tagged as “trusted undersecretary” of De Lima and had been in charge as BuCor supervisor.
Baraan’s brother, Pangasinan Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, was allegedly a “loyal follower” of Espino, whom Duterte admitted to be his friend.
Rafael allegedly knew about all the illegal activities of Espino as he was used to cover all the latter’s illegal activities.
Pangasinan Board Administrator Raul Sison was also included in the matrix but his participation was not elaborated. He, however, was quoted as saying that “Espino is the richest politician in the Northern Luzon.”
In the matrix, Espino, who was charged with plunder and was on bail on illegal mining case, had allegedly amassed unexplained wealth.
Duterte had said that De Lima is the top government official operating in the illicit drug sale among the high-profile inmates in the national penitentiary but clarified that he is not privy to her actual participation in the drug trade.
De Lima had earlier denied her alleged drug connections and called it as an “absolute lie.”
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will create a panel of investigators that will probe de Lima's involvement in illegal drug trade at the national penitentiary.
In a text message, Aguirre confirmed that the department will create a panel that will focus on the DOJ's preliminary hearing against its former officials who were alleged protectors of drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison.
Aguirre confirmed that de Lima and former DOJ Undersecretary Fransisco Baraan will be included in the probe.
According to Aguirre, the preliminary hearing will start once the six witnesses against the said officials submit their sworn affidavits to the DOJ.
Included in the list of witnesses who will prove that de Lima was involved in illegal drugs were a prison guard at NBP, a bagman, and De Lima's friend whom Aguirre did not identify.
Aguirre also disclosed that they have evidences against Baraan, whom Duterte also claimed to be protecting illegal drug lords in Bilibid. (JCR with Sunnex)
