Senator Leila De Lima tells President Rodrigo Duterte that she is ready to drop the senate investigation on the alleged extra-judicial killings linked to the administration's campaign against drugs, if the President so wishes, so that he will cease hurling accusations against her.
The senator, however, says, in so doing, she will have to betray her true character and turn away from her principles.
Reading from a prepared formal statement for the press on Thursday morning, she said, “tao lang ako. Nasasaktan para sa aking pamilya. Kung inyong gugustuhin, ititigil ko na ang imbestigasyon. Pero kapag ginawa ko ito, para ko na ring itinatwa ang sarili kong pagkatao.”
De Lima said, more allegations may come from the Palace.
She only hopes Duterte will give her the opportunity to defend herself.
“Hihintayin ko na lang. Sana ay hayaan ako ng inyong gubyerno na sagutin ang mga akusasyon,” she said.
The President on Wednesday afternoon aired personal accusations against the senator.
He also said De Lima’s alleged boyfriend was receiving drug money during the campaign on her behalf.