Sen. Leila M. de Lima yesterday denied allegations that she is involved in the release of suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
“This latest accusation that I am a protector and financier of terrorists is not only totally insane but also outrageously ridiculous!” De Lima said in a statement.
“It only exposes at how this administration could bend so low at digging in the imagined dirt that it fails to see the public laughing at them,” she added, referring to the Duterte government that she has criticized for the spate of alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.
De Lima has been charged by a certain Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawi and Abner Salahi Tahil for allegedly “financing terrorism, dishonesty, neglect of duty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”
Also charged were former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, Atty. Mehol Sadain, Atty. Wendell Sotto, and Ediwasif Baddiri.
De Lima’s accusers said they violated Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10168 or “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012’’ for “knowingly and directly aiding, protecting, providing shelter, transportation and legal services, and financing the release” of suspected ASG members Mohammad Sali Said, Jul Ahmad Ahadi, and Robin Sahiyal from the Special Intensive Care Area of Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on February 15, 2013 when she was Department of Justice Secretary. (HANNAH L. TORREGOZA)
