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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Saturday, February 25, 2017
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MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo dismissed as “political harassment” the arrest of Sen. Leila de Lima for the latter’s alleged role in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison.
“These efforts to smear Senator de Lima are a strong indication that the charges against her arise from a political agenda and not a result of an independent, unbiased legal process,” Robredo said on Friday.
Efforts against de Lima began after the senator launched an inquiry into killings attributed to the Duterte administration’s drug war, claimed Robredo.
Despite conflicting statements from Bilibid inmates who testified against de Lima, the government “circumvented due process to fast-track the issuance of the arrest warrant,” said the vice president.
“Our history as a nation is marred by instances where government officials use the processes of criminal justice to cow, silence and eliminate critics,” Robredo said.
Robredo, a political ally of de Lima, urged Filipinos to “follow and scrutinize” the senator’s case.
“We must make sure that our government institutions remain uncorrupted and independent of each other, particularly when it comes to checks and balances in pursuit of accountability,” she added.
SAFETY
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella assured de Lima of security. He said Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa already promised her she will be “very safe” in detention.
“I think she (de Lima) should put herself at rest,” Abella told CNN Philippines. “You know, these things follow due process and we do respect the right of everyone.”
“I don’t see any reason why anybody should take such a risk of doing something like that. You know, trying to attempt at her life,” he added. “The process has taken so long, and let’s wait for due process to kick in.”
For Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo, de Lima’s arrest demonstrated that the law applies “in equal rigour to rich and poor.”
“The majesty of the law shines triumphantly when a senator of a republic is arrested and detained on account of a criminal charge,” Panelo said. “Such is the working of a democracy.”
‘RAILROADED’
Meanwhile Liberal Party senators expressed support to de Lima and called out the administration for “railroading” the cases against her.
“By stopping at nothing to persecute Senator Leila, the state sends a chilling message to all — political dissent under this administration will not be tolerated. All those who will oppose will be destroyed,” said Risa Hontiveros.
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV believes de Lima’s cases were filed out of “political vendetta.”
“Kahit walang paper trail, kahit galing sa mga kriminal na nabigyan ng pabuya ang mga testimonya, kahit walang kapani-paniwalang ebidensya, ikukulong ka pa rin,” he said.
Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV said the “illegal arrest” of de Lima does not scare him.
Instead “I am motivated more than ever to expose him (Duterte) for being a plunderer and mass murderer that he truly is,” said Trillanes./PN
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