Sen. Leila de Lima said yesterday she would not resist or feign illness when the courts issue a warrant for her arrest on what she called “trumped up’’ charges to be filed against her by the pro-Duterte Department of Justice (DoJ).
“How can I resist? I cannot physically resist. I am morally and psychologically resisting it because I’m innocent absolutely, but physically cannot resist, What can I do? Hindi po ako tatakas, hindi po ako magtatago, hindi po ako pupunta ng ospital, hindi po ako mag-whe-wheelchair at neck brace Wala po akong balak na ganoon,’’ De Lima said.
All the lady senator asks is that the cell where she would temporarily stay if not allowed to post bail is “safe and secure.’’
“Marami na ho ang nangyayari, di ba? Pinapatay sa loob ng selda. So, what’s another EJK (extra judicial killing)?’’
De Lima asked.
She was apparently referring to the killing by policemen of Rolando, Espinosa, a former Albuera, Leyte mayor inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail last year
The elder Espinosa is the father of Kerwin Espinosa, a drug lord, who had testified before the Senate that he donated a total of R8 million in several tranches for her senatorial campaign in the May 2016 national elections.
In a talk with Senate reporters yesterday, De Lima said she has already packed her clothes and other items she would need while in jail in case charges of alleged illegal drug trafficking is lodged against her before a regional trial court (RTC) by DoJ Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre Jr.
“Malicious prosecution. Political harassment,’’ De Lima said of plans by the DoJ to split the related charges of drug trafficking and anti-graft charges with the former lodged with the RTC and the latter with the Office of the Ombudsman.
“This is a wrong application of the law and a malicious one,’’ she said, adding that both charges should be filed before the Ombudsman where a fair finding of probable cause is ensured. (MARIO CASAYURAN)
