De Lima denies leaking info on Aquino's Bilibid inspection

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday denied that her office leaked to the media the information that President Benigno Aquino III was going to conduct a surprise inspection at the New Bilibid Prison. Speaking to reporters, an irked De Lima said that as far as she knew, Aquino canceled the inspection because he was not feeling well and not because the advance information given to the media spoiled what would have been a surprise visit. Earlier in the day, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda held a press conference in Malacañang and said that Aquino canceled the inspection because "the element of surprise was negated." Lacierda said he would discuss with De Lima how the information leaked. But De Lima, denying that she was responsible for the leakage, told reporters to check the reports on Lacierda's statement. "May I advise you to please check those reports because maybe someone else is making up stories to create a divide between us [the President and I]," she said. Security spoiled the surprise? On Wednesday morning, security was tightened at the NBP compound. At about 8 a.m., presidential guards limited the flow of traffic into the sprawling national penitentiary reservation. A Palace advance party was also at the site for the inspection. A prison guard who declined to be named also said that as early as Tuesday night, the eve of the inspection, representatives from the Presidential Security Guard (PSG) were seen at the NBP compound. The prison guard added that the presence of the PSG alerted them that something was about to occur. — RSJ, GMA News