MANILA, Philippines - On Monday, February 13, Senator Leila de Lima said she has been preparing for the worst-case scenario, amid a forthcoming release of a warrant of arrest against her. The lady senator claims that it has always been the goal of President Rodrigo Duterte to put her behind bars.
"I've been preparing for the worst-case scenario. Isa po iyan sa matagal nang inuutos ng Pangulo. Di ho ba ilang beses na niya 'yan sinasabi he wants me locked up in jail to suffer the fate of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” De Lima told reporters.
De Lima was accused by Duterte of coddling drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her stint as Justice Secretary after she slammed the firebrand leader for the spate of extrajudicial killings under his government.
Currently, De Lima is facing 5 complaints before the Department of Justice. She is also accused of indirect bribery and violation of the anti-graft law.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has earlier said that the arrest order against the president’s fiercest critic would be released anytime soon.
De Lima: Not the Proper Way
In her interview, De Lima revealed that the DOJ intends to file the cases against her before regular courts to hasten the release of the warrant.
But according to De Lima, the Ombudsman has the sole jurisdiction over public officials like her.
“Imbis ipadala sa Ombudsman, kasi 'yun ang tamang may jurisdiction, ididiretso nga nila sa regular courts para makakuha ng arrest warrant," De Lima said.
The lady senator’s allies in the Liberal Party have said that the upcoming release of an arrest order without “credible evidence and witness” is illegal. Furthermore, her allies in the Senate also claimed that the NBP inmates who testified against her were only threatened by the government.
--Mini, The Summit Express
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| PHOTO CREDIT: GMA Network |
De Lima was accused by Duterte of coddling drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her stint as Justice Secretary after she slammed the firebrand leader for the spate of extrajudicial killings under his government.
Currently, De Lima is facing 5 complaints before the Department of Justice. She is also accused of indirect bribery and violation of the anti-graft law.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has earlier said that the arrest order against the president’s fiercest critic would be released anytime soon.
De Lima: Not the Proper Way
In her interview, De Lima revealed that the DOJ intends to file the cases against her before regular courts to hasten the release of the warrant.
But according to De Lima, the Ombudsman has the sole jurisdiction over public officials like her.
“Imbis ipadala sa Ombudsman, kasi 'yun ang tamang may jurisdiction, ididiretso nga nila sa regular courts para makakuha ng arrest warrant," De Lima said.
The lady senator’s allies in the Liberal Party have said that the upcoming release of an arrest order without “credible evidence and witness” is illegal. Furthermore, her allies in the Senate also claimed that the NBP inmates who testified against her were only threatened by the government.
--Mini, The Summit Express
