Justice Secretary Leila de Lima doubts the retraction of the witness in the bribery charge against the Ampatuans and several officials of the Department of Justice.
She described witness Jerramy Joson’s recantation as “mysterious.”
De Lima yesterday disclosed that she had already ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to invite and question Joson, who had recanted her earlier statement that Justice Undersecretary Francisco “Toti” Baraan and several prosecutors received millions from the camp of the principal accused in the Maguindanao massacre case.
De Lima said the NBI would look into the personal background of Joson to determine her credibility and see whether she has any psychological problems.
“I need to dig up the truth, whatever the truth is on this issue,” the Justice Secretary said.
“What was her motive in doing that (recantation) when the damage has already been done? For all we know, she’s concocting stories for his personal, selfish motives,” De Lima noted.
According to De Lima, she was puzzled by the recantation of Joson considering she was the source of the allegation.
“Harm has been inflicted on the institution and on the case, and then she would just take back what she said just like that? What would she say now – that she was again paid to recant – after saying she was paid to expose the alleged notebook?” she said.
Joson earlier alleged that she was used by the camp of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu in a supposed bid to remove Usec. Baraan as supervising official of the DOJ panel prosecuting the case.
Joson said she concocted charges against Baraan and some prosecutors through the notebook carrying the records of the amounts paid by the Ampatuans to the DOJ officials upon orders of lawyers Santos and Oquendo.