Photo by Noel Celis/Getty Images
The unjust detention of Senator Leila De Lima has been made more pronounced by the retraction of testimony by former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, a witness in one of the cases against the detained senator. Karapatan urges the court to revisit its decision dismissing De Lima’s motion to dismiss by way of demurrer, in the case where Ragos served as prosecution witness.
Photo by Noel Celis/Getty Images
The unjust detention of Senator Leila De Lima has been made more pronounced by the retraction of testimony by former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, a witness in one of the cases against the detained senator. Karapatan urges the court to revisit its decision dismissing De Lima’s motion to dismiss by way of demurrer, in the case where Ragos served as prosecution witness.
We likewise join the call for an independent investigation into the alleged threats of former Justice Secretary and current National Police Commission head Vitaliano Aguirre against Ragos, and Aguirre’s role in the filing of these malicious charges against Senator De Lima.
Clearly, the charges against Senator Leila were hatched by those who wanted to silence her pursuit of justice for victims of extrajudicial killings. She should be freed immediately, and those responsible for her wrongful imprisonment should be made accountable.
Cristina Palabay
Karapatan Secretary General