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><p> </p><p>MANILA — Witness recantations were not a factor in the Muntinlupa court'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&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&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>"It'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," she told ANC's "Headstart".</p><p>Testimony by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former police general, "was even favorable to me even if he was a witness for the prosecution," she also said.</p><p>In his ruling, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito said prosecution witnesses "were not able to clearly establish that there exists a conspiracy among them to commit illegal drug trading."</p><p>The court said that bail had to be granted "as the prosecution was not able to discharge its burden of establishing that guilt of said accused is strong."</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>"And that is why it'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."</p>

<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>"It'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," she told ANC's "Headstart".</p><p>Testimony by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former police general, "was even favorable to me even if he was a witness for the prosecution," she also said.</p><p>In his ruling, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito said prosecution witnesses "were not able to clearly establish that there exists a conspiracy among them to commit illegal drug trading."</p><p>The court said that bail had to be granted "as the prosecution was not able to discharge its burden of establishing that guilt of said accused is strong."</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>"And that is why it'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."</p>

<p>MANILA — Witness recantations were not a factor in the Muntinlupa court'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&key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&spid=3001339&vid=2873705' width='100%'></iframe></figure>

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

De Lima: Witness recantations not a factor in bail grant | ABS-CBN News

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De Lima: Witness recantations not a factor in bail grant

De Lima: Witness recantations not a factor in bail grant