NBI summons De Lima in probe of Kerwin Espinosa ‘confession’

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has summoned Senator Leila de Lima to in its investigation of an "extrajudicial confession" by self-confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa.

A subpoena issued on September 7 ordered the opposition senator to appear before "a certain investigation" of an alleged drug-related offense at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center—her place of detention.

The exact subject of the case, docketed as NBI-CCN-C-17-05134, was not immediately clear. The NBI has yet to respond to requests for clarification as of posting time.

De Lima has claimed ignorance to the specifics of what she assumed were "trumped-up charges."

"There being no copy of the purported extrajudicial confession attached to the one-page subpoena, I have no idea what allegations or accusations are - again - being made against me," De Lima said in a statement released Monday.

She said her alleged involvement with Espinosa had already been the subject of a probe by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which she claimed had already dismissed the charges.

Espinosa had claimed De Lima received P8 million in drug payoffs to boost her election campaign funds in 2016. The claim was made in an extrajudicial confession he first issued to the Senate and then subscribed to before the DOJ.

On February 14, 2017, the DOJ indicted De Lima for her alleged involvement in the New Bilibid Prison drug trade, but dismissed the case against her, Espinosa, and her former driver Ronnie Dayan for lack of merit.

Then-Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II also ordered an investigation on Espinosa's alleged illegal drug activities on the basis of his extrajudicial confession.

"Thus, I can only assume that I am -- again! -- being falsely accused and being made to face trumped-up charges because this administration needs to cover up the rampant incompetence, abuse and corruption that have been the only true defining hallmarks of the Duterte administration," De Lima said.

However, she said she would face the charges. "As infuriating as these constant attacks are, I accept the challenge and vow to prove my innocence," she said 

Three drug-related cases against De Lima are pending before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court. Espinosa faces separate drug, illegal firearms possession and murder charges before Manila and Makati courts. —NB, GMA News