A defiant Senator Leila de Lima yesterday rejected proposals to appear at the congressional inquiry led by administration allies at the House of Representatives saying it was clearly an attempt to get back at her for conducting a Senate probe into the rampant extrajudicial killings and summary executions.
Interviewed after the Senate committee on justice and human rights’ investigation, De Lima also refused to entertain President Duterte’s latest insinuations she is also involved in the so-called P10-billion pork barrel fund scam which was allegedly masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
“No. Huwag na muna natin si-guro pagusapan siguro ’yun kasi, well siyempre di ko gusto yan,” De Lima told reporters when asked if she is willing to face the House probe.
“Kasi mabuti kung meron silang (ebidensya) and I don’t think it’s a legitimate matter to be a subject of an inquiry in aid of legislation,” she further said.
Duterte’s allies at the House led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has filed House Resolution No. 105 which seeks an inquiry into the rampant drug use inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) which her critics said became rampant during her term as Justice secretary.
In turning down an appearance at the House, De Lima pointed out she cannot see the logic of facing an investigation meant at discrediting her efforts to address the drug trade inside the national penitentiary.
“Dahil unang–una nga, noon, dati nang nagco-conduct ng hearing ang committee on human rights and justice nung nangyayari sa Bilibid after nung raid namin nung Dec. 15, 2014,” she pointed out. (Hannah Torregoza)