DOJ prosecutors question credibility of ‘notebook’ on alleged bribery

Maguindanao Massacre gravesite. Photo by Carlos H. Conde / Twitter

MANILA — The prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) questioned on Friday the credibility or credence of the “notebook” detailing the alleged amounts of bribe money given to the prosecutors handling the Maguindanao massacre case.

The massacre claimed the lives of 58 civilians, including 15 women and 32 media practitioners, in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

Deputy Senior State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon challenged the woman, who was the so-called “source” of the notebook, to come out in the open and not to hide behind the camera.

Fadullon was among those who were named in the notebook.

However, Fadullon said that it was not true that he received bribe money, pointing out that when the alleged bribery took place, he was not anymore part of the panel of prosecutors handling the case.

According to Fadullon, if the report that came out in a TV network would be the basis, it appeared that the woman who was the alleged “source” of the notebook was not its owner.

Hence, Fadullon questioned her credibility to make a speculation on the contents of the notebook.

Likewise, Fadullon said that making a report from the said notebook without the appropriate verification was irresponsible.

He added that the problem is that because of the surfacing of the questionable notebook, their credibility and integrity as public prosecutors have been tainted.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila M.

De Lima said on Friday that TV journalist Ces Drilon, who reported about the contents of the controversial notebook, will be among those who will be summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) about their investigation into the alleged bribery in the Maguindanao massacre case.