Probe on Maguindanao massacre case bribe try up to De Lima – Palace

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Photo courtesy of De Lima’s Facebook page.

MANILA — The decision on whether or not to conduct a probe on the alleged bribe try in the Maguindanao massacre case , is all up to the justice secretary, according to Malacanang on Tuesday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters on Tuesday that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, lawyer of Maguindanao Gov. Esmail Mangudadatu, are the ones in position to investigate the case. 

The allegations on the bribe try came after  lawyer Nena Santos said that prosecutors handling the case have received a P300-million bribe to weaken the prosecution against the accused.

De Lima, talking to reporters, urged Santos to prove her accusations that Baraan received money from the members of the Ampatuan clan.

Believing that Santos’ claim is baseless, she urged Santos to show her the evidence and prove her accusations.

“Simply because she rejected the P300-million alleged bribe offer of the Ampatuan, it already went to public prosecutors?” she asked. “That is simply preposterous. That’s a big jump in conclusion,” she said. 

“Show me the evidence,” she said. “Why would she wait for my exit here in DOJ? Go ahead.”  

Lacierda, meanwhile, reiterated that the prosecution should be the ones discussing and resolving the problem among themselves.

“Maybe, before suggesting anything, Secretary Leila de Lima is in a better position to discuss amongst themselves whatever differences they (have) and to look into those allegations of corruption,” he said.