Senator Leila De Lima on Wednesday stressed that she will not back down from President Rodrigo Duterte's accusation of her being involved in illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) during her stint as Justice secretary.
The senator appealed to the administration to "stop this madness" as she already feels helpless about the situation.
"Tama na. Hulihin n'yo na ako ngayon kung 'yan naman talaga ang gusto n'yo. Ikulong n'yo na ako ngayon. I'm here. Do what you want to do to me, Mr. President. I'll wait for you," De Lima said, addressing the president in a televised press briefing.
Despite advice of her friends to seek asylum outside the country, a very emotional De Lima insisted that she will stay in the the Philippines.
"Why should I do that? I want to fight here in my country. Hindi po ako duwag dahil wala po akong kasalanan," the senator said.
"Duwag ang umaatras, hindi po si Leila De Lima. Hindi po ako pinalaki ng tatay ko na maging duwag," De Lima pointed out.
The Justice chief also said that the stabbing incident at Bilibid 14 of the NBP is an part of the administration's scheme to pin her down.
"We just saw a news item quoting [House] Speaker [Pantaleon] Alvarez saying that somebody must be out to silence [Jaybee] Sebastian. Ano na naman ang mga implication nila? Kagagawan ko na naman yan? Sila ang nanggigipit sa akin. Masyado na nila akong ginigipit, inaapi," the senator said.
She emphasized that Bilibid 14 of the NBP is supposed to be the most guarded facility in the country with the police Special Action Force troppers deployed at the penitentiary.
"In your desperation, pangulo, para siraan n'yo ako hindi n'yo na iniisip kung ano na 'yung nagiging itsura ninyo sa mata ng bayan at saka mundo. Kayo na po ang pinagtatawanan, hindi po ako. Inosente po ako," De Lima said.
De Lima released text messages from a source claiming that NBP inmate Jaybee Sebastian is being forced to testify against her.
The senator said that she will reveal who her source is in the proper venue.
Source / Image: The Philippine Star
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