The Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledged on Thursday the recent decision by the court regarding the transfer of inmate witnesses in the case of former Senator Leila de Lima but added that “some matters must be made clear”.
In a statement, the DOJ expressed five points regarding the court’s decision on the witnesses’ transfer:
1. The witnesses are persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and are not ordinary witnesses since they are convicted felons, several for heinous crimes.
2. The transfer of the inmates out of the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) was pursuant to the jail decongestion effort of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
3. It is customary for the court to conduct proceedings at the detention facilities where inmates are held, rather than transferring them to locations near the courts. As such, the DOJ said if necessary, video hearings are a “feasible alternative for addressing security and logistical challenges”.
4. The DOJ does not endorse rewarding PDLs for recanting testimonies. “Recanting is viewed unfavorably by the legal system, as it raises questions about the credibility and reliability of witness testimonies” and that rewarding PDLs for recantation “will set a dangerous precedent.”
5. The DOJ said BuCor holds jurisdiction over the custody and management of convicted PDLs and as such, the DOJ said its position that any judge should refrain from involvement in decisions that could be perceived as political.
Having made the Justice department “underscores that the courts cannot dictate specific security arrangements for PDLs. The BuCor has established protocols to ensure the safety of all individuals in custody. Inmates in the NBP, including those involved in high-profile cases, are provided adequate security and care.”
“In all this, the DOJ is simply committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all decisions regarding the custody and management of PDLs are made in accordance with legal standards and the best interests of justice,” the department said.—RF, GMA Integrated News
