COMMITTEE on justice acting chair Vicente Veloso clarified Wednesday that the immunity given to the witnesses who testified at the House inquiry into illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) only covered their testimonies.
"The immunity given to the witnesses extends only to testimonies relevant to the congressional inquiry," Veloso said during second day of the justice panel's hearing on the alleged drug trade in the NBP on Wednesday.
Representative Alfredo Garbin questioned the chair after witness Froilan Trestiza tagged another witness, former Bureau of Correction (Bucor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos in the illegal drug trade and corruption at the national penitentiary.
Ragos is currently working at the National Bureau of Investigation as director III.
The chair pointed out that the immunity given to the witnesses in the congressional probe does not cover their immunity from suits.
"The constitution guaranteed right for you not to incriminate yourself, immunity is another thing," Veloso said.
According to Trestiza, a convicted kidnapper, Ragos, and another consultant of then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Danilo Martinez, extorted money from him so he would not be thrown out to another prison facility.
Another inmate Jojo Baligad also revealed to the panel Ragos' alleged involvement in drug proliferation at NBP.
Baligas said he gave Ragos money amounting to P400,000 in exchange of favor and protection. Ragos also allowed contrabands inside the NBP.
"Nagbibigay ako ng P100,000 kada linggo, kapalit nun pagluwag dito sa NBP. Hindi na kinukumpiska ang mga kontrabando katulad ng shabu, marijuana, cellphone, signal boosters," Baligad said.
All the witnesses were granted immunity by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. (Sunnex)
