MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Leila de Lima is unfazed by the plan of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which she used to head, to summon her to explain her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Since the lawmakers’ inquiries into her alleged links to the drug trade in the national penitentiary, De Lima has faced various legal charges.
Meanwhile, the United States has urged the Philippine government to ensure full compliance with its international legal obligation and due process in filing charges against individuals for alleged involvement in drugs.
“I have no illusion about what I’m up against; you and I know that he (Aguirre) does not have a license to abuse his authority to smear my reputation and slander my integrity,” De Lima said. “I am up against the government’s deliberate efforts to undermine the accomplishments of the previous administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.”
She described the Duterte administration as singularly motivated to demonize its political opponents instead of confronting the illegal drug menace.
The embattled senator has filed a petition for a writ of habeas data with the Supreme Court, seeking to stop the President from allegedly using state resources in what she called his “personal vendetta” against her.
A writ of habeas data is a remedy available to any person, whose right to privacy, liberty, or security, is violated or threatened by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee or of a private individual or entity.
De Lima said Aguirre has “a propensity for untruthful and thoughtless statements, for feeding us with lies and deceits, and for resorting to fabrication and forgery.”
She said the more Aguirre and other officials of the administration speak about the cases against her, the more their lies are exposed.
Source:Philstar
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