The subpoenas directed De Lima and the other respondents to obtain copies of the four complaints during the preliminary investigation set for December 2 by the five-man panel of prosecutors, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in a press conference.
These complaints were filed by high profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, and former NBI deputy directors Ruel Lasala and Reynaldo Esmeralda.
Sebastian is a co-respondent in the complaints filed by the VACC and the NBI.
Watch Subpoena For De Lime Released by DOJ
"You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with the subpoena shall be considered as a waiver of your right to be furnished copies of the complaint, supporting affidavits and other documents, as well as to examine other evidence submitted by the complainant(s)," the subpoena stated.
Other personalities named in the various complaints are former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu, former BuCor officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, De Lima's former security aides Ronnie Dayan and Joenel Sanchez, and several inmates like Herbert Colanggo, Peter Co and Jojo Baligad.
The senator's alleged nephew and ex-security aide, Jose Adrian Dera alias Jad De Vera, and her former personal assistant, Lyn Sagum have also been issued subpoenas, according to Aguirre.
Leila De Lima
In a text message to reporters, De Lima said her legal team will handle her camp’s response to the subpoena.
Her office, meanwhile, said De Lima has received the subpoena, and noted that the subpoena "orders were not to submit counter-affidavits yet" but to obtain copies of complaints and other supporting affidavits and evidence.
De Lima has repeatedly denied allegations that she tolerated drug syndicates inside the national penitentiary when she was head of the Department of Justice in exchange for funds for her 2016 election campaign.
De Lima and her co-respondents may ignore the preliminary investigation but that would mean waiving their right to file defense to the allegations.
In a statement last week, the senator appeared to be unfazed by the DOJ's plan to summon her to the probe headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong.
"Since day one, the administration has not provided a solid evidence to substantiate their accusations other than malicious conjectures and manufactured lies," De Lima said.
"All they are good at is to talk and lambast me in public," she added.
De Lima also criticized Aguirre for allegedly feeding the public "with lies and deceits and for resorting to fabrication and forgery" to prove the drug allegations. —with Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK, GMA News
Subpoena For De Lima Has Been Released
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