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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, December 27, 2016
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MANILA – Rep. Fredenil Castro (Capiz, 2nd District) advised Sen. Leila de Lima to refrain from further speaking against her accusers and just face the case lodged against her.
De Lima was charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly meddling in the House of Representatives inquiry into the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.
She claimed the case was just the House’s way to save its face after failing to prove her links to the illegal drug trade.
In a press statement, Castro said de Lima should just answer the charge.
“Mas makabubuti kung iiwasan niyang magpahayag ng mga kung anu-ano,” said the deputy House speaker. “Bagkus ay harapin na lamang [niya] ang kasong isinampa sa kanya ng Department of Justice.”
De Lima allegedly discouraged former driver and bodyguard Ronnie Dayan from attending despite a subpoena.
The House raised the case before the Justice department, which in turn filed the charge before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court last week.
“Sa halip na manira pa ng kung sinu-sino ay ipagtanggol na lamang niya ang sarili sa korte upang malinis ang kanyang pangalan kung totoo ngang wala siyang kasalanan,” said Castro.
In a testimony, Dayan said he was willing to attend the House inquiry but de Lima told his daughter in a text message to ask him not to go.
De Lima said she was just giving Dayan an advice.
Dayan was arrested on Nov. 22 in La Union province for not appearing at the House hearings despite a subpoena./PN
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