De Lima: Witness recantations not a factor in bail grant

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="De Lima: Witness recantations not a factor in bail grant" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/11/13/20231113-delima-bail-granted-jc3445.jpg"/></figure></div><div> </div><p>MANILA — Witness recantations were not a factor in the Muntinlupa court&#x27;s decision to grant her and her co-defendants bail, former Sen. Leila de Lima said Wednesday, adding it was granted after a thorough review of the case.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2873705" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>She said that although there have been witnesses who have recanted their testimony against her, these were not the ones that prosecutors presented at bail hearings.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/13/23/why-muntinlupa-court-allowed-de-lima-others-to-post-bail">Why Muntinlupa court allowed De Lima, others to post bail</a></li></ul><p>&quot;It&#x27;s just that the new judge, in reviewing throroughly — in scrutinizing the whole records of the case — found that there was no sufficient evidence. [He] found lots of loopholes, inconsistencies and incredibility in the testimony of most of the bail witnesses,&quot; she told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart&quot;.</p><p>Testimony by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former police general, &quot;was even favorable to me even if he was a witness for the prosecution,&quot; she also said.</p><p>In his ruling, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito said prosecution witnesses &quot;were not able to clearly establish that there exists a conspiracy among them to commit illegal drug trading.&quot;</p><p>The court said that bail had to be granted &quot;as the prosecution was not able to discharge its burden of establishing that guilt of said accused is strong.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/11/15/23/de-lima-camp-mulls-legal-action-vs-ex-duterte-admin-officials">De Lima camp mulls legal action vs ex-Duterte administration officials</a></li></ul><p>Other witnesses have yet to be formalize their recantations and submit these to the court, de Lima said.</p><p>&quot;And that is why it&#x27;s wrong for some people to say that the basis for the grant of my bail now — my bail and the bail of my co-accused — is the recantation of these witnesses.&quot;</p>

None of the witnesses that the prosecution presented at bail hearings have recanted their testimony, de Lima said.

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De Lima: Witness recantations not a factor in bail grant

De Lima: Witness recantations not a factor in bail grant

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 15, 2023 11:00 AM PHT

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Updated Nov 15, 2023 11:19 AM PHT

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Leila De Lima

Department of Justice

National Prosecution Service

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