President Rodrigo Duterte vows to boost the country’s military capabilities during his speech at the 2nd Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal on August 24. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte early Thursday morning released a “matrix” showing links between Senator Leila de Lima and several others allegedly involved in illegal drug activities at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) under the previous administration.
Duterte disclosed the document in the early hours of the morning in Davao City after a press conference and visit with journalists at a local park in the city.
The names listed in the matrix are:
– Senator Leila De Lima
– De Lima’s former driver Ronnie Palisoc Dayan
– former Justice Undersecretary Francis Baraan
– Urbiztondo, Pangasinan Mayor Raul Sison
– Pangasinan provincial administrator Rafael Baraan
– Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino
– Former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Bucayo
Duterte did not say where the information in the matrix came from.
The matrix claims that Dayan had been a boyfriend of De Lima since her days in the Commission on Human Rights.
He allegedly received monthly payola (grease money) from Bucayo through a certain Senior Police Officer 1 Palisoc.
The document also claims that Dayan, “a known drug user in Urbiztondo”, got house and lot, money, and vehicles from De Lima.
According to the matrix, Bucayo is a go-between of De Lima and Espino, a former governor of Pangasinan.
Former Justice Undersecretary Francis Baraan’s brother Rafael, meanwhile, was allegedly used to cover for Espino’s illegal activities.
Duterte earlier said the matrix explains the dynamics of the illegal drug network in Bilibid.
He has accused De Lima’s former driver and bodyguard of being her link to convicted drug lords, who were supposedly allowed to run their illegal operations from detention when she was justice secretary.
De Lima has denied the allegation. She also belied existence of shabu laboratories inside the NBP when she was justice chief.
She also debunked allegations that she bought a house for her former driver in Pangasinan.
According to the Urbiztondo Municipal Assessor’s Office, the land where the Dayan family’s house was built is owned by the driver’s sister. “Si Kagawad Dureta po iyung nagmamay-ari po. Nakapangalan po sa kanya,” said municipal assessor Merle Moreno.
Dayan’s sibling said that the senator and her driver did not have any romantic relationship, contrary to Duterte’s allegations.
Baraan, meanwhile, has denied any involvement with the proliferation of illegal drugs inside Bilibid.
“All I can say now is that this is something I totally cannot imagine myself being involved in; it contradicts the deepest Christian values I hold dear,” Baraan said in a statement, released a day after President Rodrigo Duterte tagged him in the narcotics trade.
“I know myself, and in due time the truth will prevail,” Baraan added. (MNS)