Immigration bureau: New trafficking scheme uses pilgrimage as cover De Lima drug case now up for decision

Escorted by police, De Lima attended the hearing on Monday at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204.

Filibon Tacardon, lawyer for De Lima, said they are expecting the decision to be promulgated on May 12.

“We will soon find out if former senator Leila de Lima is innocent of the charges. We are asking our countrymen to pray for the dismissal of the case filed against her,” Tacardon told reporters.

The charges stemmed from the allegation that De Lima received drug money from former Bureau of

“those with good travel records, gainfully employed and are graduates of good schools” — being deceived by cryptocurrency scams abroad that advertise false promises of high salaries. BI officers have since resorted to conducting lengthy interviews to screen passengers. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco last week said that eliminating human trafficking and illegal recruitment will require a concerted effort from all government agencies. g

Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos. Ragos and self-confessed drug trafficker Kerwin Espinosa have retracted their allegations against De Lima. Following the recantation of Ragos and Espinosa, Tacordon said the former