News Roundup 05 June 2022
Jun 05, 2022 • 3 min Read
DOJ to reassess evidence vs Sen. Leila de Lima | INQUIRER.NET – Will the scales of justice finally tilt in favor of detained Sen. Leila de Lima? The Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot make a categorical reply at this time, but it will be taking a second look at the remaining evidence against the senator, President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critic, on the heels of the recantations of key witnesses who had linked her to the illegal drug trade, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Saturday. Guevarra, who will be replaced by Cavite Rep. Crispin “Boying” Remulla in the next administration, told the Inquirer that he had directed state prosecutors to review the evidence in the two remaining cases against De Lima in separate courts in Muntinlupa City. The examination of the records, he said, would only “take a few days” before the prosecution decides on what to do. “The prosecution needs to reassess the strength of its overall evidence in the light of the retractions of certain witnesses,” Guevarra said in a Viber message to the Inquirer. “If the prosecution believes that such recantations do not affect its case, then the prosecution will maintain its course,” he said. “If it believes that its case has been somehow affected, then it should do whatever is appropriate, such as attack the credibility and truthfulness of flip-flopping witnesses or present rebuttal evidence,” he added. The justice secretary said the review would be conducted by a team of state prosecutors. “A court trial is a very dynamic process,” he said. “Both the prosecution and defense continually assess their respective position as events in court unfold. The same thing is true with the cases of Senator De Lima.” De Lima, who lost reelection in the May 9 polls, has been detained inside a police cell at Camp Crame since February 2017.
Juban town orders forced evacuation of residents affected by ashfall from Mt. Bulusan | INQUIRER.NET – The local government of Juban town in Sorsogon province has ordered forced evacuation of residents affected by the ashfall caused by the phreatic eruption of Bulusan Volcano on Sunday morning. Arvee Lodronio, head of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) of Juban, said at least 1,500 families were affected in seven villages of Buraburan, Sangkayon, Putting Sapa, Añog, Bacolod, Catanusan and Guruyan. Lodronio said they prioritized the persons with respiratory illness, senior citizens and children in the village of Puting Sapa who were living inside the five-kilometer radius of the volcano. “We prioritized this village because it is an interior area and it would be difficult for us to enter this in case of another explosion, unlike in other areas situated along the road,” he said.
Robredo sends relief team to Sorsogon amid Bulusan volcano eruption | Manila Bulletin – Outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo will send a relief team to Bulusan, Sorsogon, in her home region of Bicol amid the phreatic eruption of the Bulusan Volcano on Sunday, June 5. “We are currently preparing for our relief operations in Bulusan, Sorsogon, and the surrounding areas. Immediate needs identified are face masks and bottled water,” she said in a Twitter post. “Our team will be travelling to Sorsogon ASAP. Will continue to update you of other needs,” Robredo added. The Vice President, who will end her term at noon on June 30, identified Juban and Irosin towns as the affected areas. Sorsogon and nearby areas saw the phreatic eruption of the Bulusan Volcano that spewed ash on Sunday morning.
