Two former police officers, who are already serving sentences, said they would recant their testimonies in the remaining illegal drug case against former senator Leila De Lima.

Rodolfo Magleo, who used to hold the rank of major, asked De Lima to send them lawyers to formalize their decision to recant their earlier testimony against her, as stated in a handwritten letter dated Oct. 12 and sent to the former lawmaker at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City

De Lima’s remaining drug charge accuses her of tolerating widespread drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City while she was Justice secretary in exchange for hush money from convicted drug lords to bankroll her senatorial candidacy.

In the same letter which includes the contact numbers of his son, Magleo said former sergeant Nonilo Arile and five other witnesses likewise want to recall their testimonies.

“We are bothered by our conscience. We do not want you to be victim of mistrial. We will reveal in due time. We are assuring you all that the last case will be dismissed,” read the letter.

The witnesses claimed they wanted to recant their testimonies since 2018 but were restricted “due to impossibility of communication.”

The remaining case against De Lima is pending before Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 under Judge Gener Gito, who has ordered three witnesses, including Magleo, former cop Froilan Trestiza and gang leader Jaime Patcho, to testify in court hearings. (PNA)