Senator Risa Hontiveros backed the plan of former Senator Leila de Lima to file counter lawsuits against former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies, who persecuted her during their administration by fabricating drug related charges, among other malicious accusations.
“I really think she (De Lima) should consider (taking legal actions),” Hontiveros said in a recent interview. She noted that the human rights advocate and former Justice Secretary deserves to seek justice as well for the grave offenses done to her.
De Lima’s imprisonment has been among the focal points of criticism against Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, which has been widely condemned for its extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.
As one of the most high-profile detainees of this campaign, the former senator has fought for the rights and justice of other victims affected by Duterte’s policies.
Hontiveros emphasized that De Lima is someone who has always stood up for justice, not just for herself but for the countless widows and families who lost their loved ones during Duterte’s brutal drug war.
In a recent interview with DWIZ, De Lima disclosed her intention to hold Duterte and his then-Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II accountable for the charges that led to her detention.
“I am doing this for justice and vindication, not to seek revenge. It is not a matter of vengefulness. It is my right to seek justice for the wrong they committed against me,” De Lima asserted. As a former Justice Secretary herself, she is acutely aware of the legal and moral implications of her battle.
” They smeared my reputation. I was detained and deprived of my liberty for almost seven years,” she continued, reflecting on the impact of her incarceration. She was unable to fully carry out her duties as a senator due to her unjust political persecution.
De Lima highlighted that her prosecution was orchestrated under Duterte’s directive, with Aguirre acting as his chief enforcer.
She also recalled the animosity Duterte held against her dating back to her tenure as the head of the Commission on Human Rights, where she investigated alleged extrajudicial killings by the Davao Death Squad during Duterte’s term as Davao City Mayor.
Duterte had a personal vendetta against De Lima, who he vowed to destroy upon his ascension to the presidency.