Ex-police official to recant in De Lima's drug case

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 21) — Another witness has decided to recant his testimony against former Sen. Leila de Lima, a document obtained by CNN Philippines on Thursday showed.

Ex-police general Jerry Valeroso's letter of intent to recant in De Lima's last drug case was received by a Muntinlupa court on Tuesday. It was addressed to presiding Judge Gener Gito.

Valeroso said his retraction was to «set free all accused who were wrongfully charged in this court.»

The recantation would also disclose «the real truthfulness» that the criminal complaints filed against the accused were «pure hearsay and full of lies.»

«Because I was disturbed by my conscience, I planned to recant in early 2019,» Valeroso wrote. «However, due to fearing for my life and the safety of my family and loved ones, I lost the guts to do so.»

He said he would consult his lawyer in filing his official recantation.

Valeroso will be the latest witness to withdraw statements against De Lima, a vocal critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs.

Those who recanted their testimonies against De Lima included former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, and De Lima's former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan, as well as two inmates in October and seven more in November.

RELATED: Court orders transfer of 11 inmate-witnesses in De Lima drug case to Bilibid

On Nov. 13, De Lima was granted provisional liberty after posting bail for her remaining drug case. Her release came after six years and nine months of detention.

The former senator has been acquitted in two of three drug charges filed against her by the Duterte administration.