[Trending Now] HAPPENING NOW: House of Represetatives Hearing On De Lima's Involvement in Bilibid Drug Trade

Today, September 20, the House of the Representatives is conducting a hearing regarding the allegations that the former Secretary of the Department of Justice, Sen. Leila De Lima, is involved in the proliferation of drugs in the New Bilibid Prison when she was still the chief of justice. Reports were made that several convicts are about to file their testimony about De Lima's involvement in the drug trade.

The hearing is lead by the House Committee on Justice and it focuses on House Resolution No. 5 filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other House leaders to investigate the "involvement and accountability of the authorities mandated to exercise control and supervision over the national penitentiary under the leadership of then Secretary of the Department of Justice Leila M. De Lima, and such other heads of law enforcement agencies tasked with implementing law enforcement policies, particularly those combating the use, proliferation and trade of illegal and prohibited drugs".

According to Surigao Del Norte Representative Robert "Ace" Barbers who is also the chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, 20 witnesses are expected to testify against De Lima and they will be presented by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III.

Meanwhile, Sen. Leila De Lima initially said that she will not attend the hearing nor have a lawyer to represent her. However, House Speaker Alvarez said that the hearing will still be conducted with or without the presence of De Lima.

Source: TNP, Facebook