De Lima ordered arrested by RTC

LOOK: RTC order vs. Sen. Leila de Lima saying there is probable cause and a warrant should be issued pic.twitter.com/J0HLGGHO7j

— Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) February 23, 2017

 MANILA - A Regional Trial Court (RTC) has ordered the arrest of Senator Leila de Lima for her alleged involvement in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) illegal drug trade.

Presiding Judge Juanita Guerrero of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 issued the arrest warrant.

De Lima's three criminal cases were raffled off to Muntinlupa RTC branches 204 (Judge Juanita Guerrero), 205 (Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz) and 206 (Judge Patria Manalastas-de Leon) last Monday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre told ANC Thursday he was expecting the issuance of the arrest warrant.

"I am expecting it because we have filed a strong case against the Secretary-Senator and in her defense, she did not file a counter affidavit," Aguirre said.

"The warrant of arrest is inevitable," he added.

Aguirre said "any of the police agencies—the Philippine National Police, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, or even the National Bureau of Investigation could arrest the senator."

"But I prefer that the service of the warrant of arrest be done not by the NBI," said Aguirre.

The order for De Lima's arrest is in connection with the criminal case pending before Muntinlupa RTC branch 204 filed by the Department of Justice.

Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted De Lima for violating sections 5 and 22 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act pertaining to the sale, administration, dispensation, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs.

 Several complaints filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, and Bilibid inmate Jaybee Sebastian alleged that De Lima directed high-profile Bilibid inmates to distribute huge volumes of shabu to help fund her 2016 senatorial bid.

Also indicted along with De Lima were her former driver-bodyguard and estranged lover Ronnie Dayan, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director-General Franklin Jesus Bucayu, former BuCor OIC and NBI deputy director Rafael Ragos, Wilfredo Elli, Jaybee Sebastian, Joenel Sanchez and Jose Adrian Dera.

Ragos, in his affidavit and testimony before the House of Representatives, claimed he delivered P10 million to De Lima and Ronnie Dayan in separate occasions.

He said he delivered a bag containing P5 million to Dayan in De Lima's residence in South Bay Village last November 2012. He claimed he saw Dayan hand the bag over to De Lima.

He also claimed delivering a plastic bag full of money from inmate Peter Co to Dayan inside De Lima's house in Parañaque in December 2012.

He also claimed giving P1.6 million to Dayan and another P800,000 for De Lima's expenses after Dayan asked for funds allegedly for De Lima's senatorial bid.

He also claimed delivering P1.7 million to Dayan at De Lima's house on four occasions in January 2013.


De Lima last Monday said she would challenge the jurisdiction of the RTC where the drug cases were filed.

She said her lawyers will be filing motions questioning the jurisdiction of the Muntinlupa RTC over her drug cases.

“Ang principal issue na nire-raise dito ay jurisdictional. Dapat dinerecho iyan sa Ombudsman, hindi sa RTC.”

(The principal issue to be raised here is the jurisdiction of the court. The cases should have been filed before the Ombudsman, not the RTC.)

But Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said recently that the local court is the proper venue to hear the charges.

"On the matter of jurisdiction, it is the RTC that has original and exclusive jurisdiction over the three cases, regardless of the high position of the respondent," Aguirre said. -- report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Jaybee Sebastian to supply bank details, list of 'Ninja Cops' to DOJ

Convicted crime boss Jaybee Sebastian on Monday promised to give the Department of Justice (DOJ) the bank details and a list of cops connected with the illegal drug trade.

Sebastian said he was "very much willing" to give the DOJ all the bank accounts that were used in the illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibd Prison (NBP).

Sebastian was also "willing to do some research" and surrender to the department all the names of so-called "Ninja Cops," who resold illegal drugs they confiscate during operations.


He said some police officers would seize 300 kilos of shabu but only present 30 to the public and their superiors. They will then resell 270 kilos for profit.

"Ito ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit lumaganap ang droga sa Pilipinas [This is the real reason why illegal drugs spread across the Philippines]," he said at Monday's House committee hearing on the illegal drug trade inside the NBP.

Sebastian, who was appearing at the inquiry for the first time, testified that he gave at least P14 million in drug payoffs to Senator Leila De Lima in 2014.


Previous witnesses claimed that Sebastian had ordered them to sell drugs to add funds to De Lima's campaign kitty for the 2016 senatorial elections.

Sebastian stayed quiet until Monday and clarified that he never refused to testify.

"Actually hindi po totoo yan [Actually that is not true]," he said.

He even personally supplied the solicitor general information about the illegal drug trade and other anomalies inside the prison, he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Hubert Webb marries woman he met in prison

MANILA - Following their engagement back in 2014, Hubert Webb finally tied the knot with his non-showbiz fiancée, whom he met while he was imprisoned at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

On Saturday, the 47-year-old Webb, the son of former senator Freddie Webb, held a wedding ceremony at the St. Andrew Cathedral in Parañaque City.

In an interview on Kris TV back in 2012, Webb, while refusing to reveal the name of his partner, described her as a chef who is six years younger than him. "It’s like meeting someone you know you can spend the rest of your life with," he, at the time, said of his now-wife.

He also admitted that he was hesitant to marry his partner because he was concerned about his future. "You have to be able to provide for the girl," Webb explained.

Prior to being acquitted in 2010 on the much publicized Vizconde massacre case that took place in June 1991, Webb spent 15 years in prison.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Miriam on Bilibid luxuries: Make prisoners pay

MANILA - If you can't stop them, at least make them pay.

This, according to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, should be the government's response to the luxurious lifestyle of certain inmates at the national penitentiary.

"Several years ago, I recommended that we should follow the procedure in the United States where they are allowed not necessarily luxurious but at least improved circumstances of detention over those who are just treated in a regular manner," she told reporters on Wednesday.

"Then we can make them pay and give the money for government funds."

Calling the situation old news, Santiago said the discovery of some prisoners' luxurious lifestyle has been going on for a long time.

"If you cannot prevent it, then you must mitigate it," she said.

Santiago added that the Justice Department must reveal the identities of officials who have been protecting the system, saying the officials are criminally liable.

The senator does not agree, however, with renewed calls to bring back the death penalty.

On Tuesday, Senator Vicente Sotto III proposed that the death penalty be revived particularly for high-level drug traffickers like the ones who were found to be enjoying luxuries while in jail.

Santiago pointed out that the Philippines has international commitments to abolish death as a punishment for crimes.

"If we are about to make a U-turn here, we have to contend with the opposition of the European countries," she said. "Plus it will not sit well with the coming visit of the Pope of the Catholic Church, which has always been anti-capital punishment."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How Hubert Webb found love in prison

MANILA, Philippines – Despite being in prison for 15 long years, Hubert Webb was still able to find love.

In fact, four women became part of Webb’s life at the time, either his pals or family friends who came to visit him at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.

“The first one was a good friend of my mom, the daughter. Mga three years [naging kami],” Webb said in an interview on the ABS-CBN morning talk show “Kris TV,” where he and his father, former senator Freddie Webb, made a guest appearance.

“The second and third, most of the time they just visit and we got to know each other through the course of time,” he added.

Things began to get serious, however, when Hubert met his fourth girlfriend while in prison. While her name was not mentioned just like the others, the woman was described as a chef who is six years younger than he is.

“It’s like meeting someone you know you can spend the rest of your life with,” said Hubert, as “Kris TV” flashed pictures of him with his girlfriend.



His father said Hubert initially kept their relationship a secret from the family, explaining that the girl was “shy.”

“’Yung number four na ‘yan, matagal niyang tinago sa amin. ‘Pag dadating kami [sa kulungan], wala siya doon. Sabi ko, ‘Hubert, balita ko meron kang nililigawan and she comes here when we’re not around,’” the elder Webb shared.

“Mahiyain ‘yung girl. It took time, like maybe a month, and then sumasama na sa pagkain namin.”

The ex-senator praised the girl for being serious about the relationship despite his son’s situation. But Hubert, who was still in prison at the time, would rather not tie the knot just yet.

“Ang gusto ng girl magpakasal na sila. Ayaw ni Hubert kasi ang iniisip ni Hubert, ‘paano tayo magpapakasal, hindi ko alam kung kailan ako lalabas dito sa kulungan?’ And ayaw ko na magkaanak ako na dadalhin dito na nasa kulungan ako. Maghintay ka ‘pag nakalaya na ako, at saka tayo mag-usap ng kasalan,’” the older Webb explained.

“And the girl could not wait that long. They were together for four and a half to five years.”

Now, two years since getting his freedom back, Hubert is still hesitant about getting married, saying that he is only concerned about his future family.

“For now, my principle has always been the same. You have to be able to provide for the girl, etc. While I’m still looking for something to provide for my future family, ganoon na rin ang situation namin,” he said.

Aside from being thankful to his girlfriend for loving him for who he is, Hubert also expressed happiness that her family has accepted him as well.

“Yes, they’ve accepted me na rin. Of course, it takes time. I can’t blame them,” he said.

In 2010, Hubert and five others were acquitted on the much publicized Vizconde massacre case that took place in June 1991, ending years of their burden of being incarcerated.

source: abs-cbnnews.com