Senator Leila De Lima filed a writ of habeas data against President Rodrigo Duterte before the Supreme Court on Monday morning, November 7.
The lady senator is essentially seeking the high court’s protection to enjoin the government to stop illegally collecting and using personal information against her.
“Ang sinampahan ko ng kaso ay si Rodrigo Roa Duterte, hindi ang pangulo ng ating bansa (The person I sued is Rodrigo Roa Duterte, not the president of the country),” De Lima insisted, saying Duterte just happened to wear the mask of the presidency.
De Lima pointed out it the suit was due to the president’s accusations against her, which she described as “kahindik-hindik, karimarimarim at kasuklam-suklam na mga hakbang at pananalita… na walang kinalaman sa kanyang pagiging pangulo (shocking, disgusting and revolting moves and statements… that are unbecoming of being president).”
De Lima was supported by women advocates, famed “running priest” Fr. Robert Reyes and singer Celeste Legaspi.
The president had been accusing the senator of benefiting from the drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison—using her former driver and alleged lover of collecting money for her from the drug lords detained in the penitentiary—which she had been denying.
De Lima, during her time as human rights commissioner and recently as senator, probed Duterte’s alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings as Davao City mayor.
The senator herself faces graft charges filed separately by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and Jaybee Sebastian, the convicted car thief and alleged drug lord.
The post De Lima Files Writ of Habeas Data vs. Duterte at SC appeared first on Manila Bulletin
Share It To Your Friends!
Loading...