Former Senator Leila de Lima is keeping calm despite the violent gestures displayed by her tormentor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, after the two were seated next to each other during the 11th session of the House Quad Committee on the war on drugs and extrajudicial killings (EJKs).
De Lima confronted Duterte at the congressional probe for claiming he does not recognize her. She pointed out their hostile encounters in the past, given their history of legal and political challenges, which even led to her becoming a target of the Duterte administration’s “propaganda.”
Both personalities are lawyers, who have opposing views on human rights and the criminal justice system. De Lima investigated Duterte over allegations of EJKs since he was mayor of Davao City.
“I am unfazed by Duterte’s violent gesture against me. After all, he dug his own grave today with his personal invitation to the ICC (International Criminal Court),” De Lima said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) with a videoclip of his clenched fist.
The longtime human rights advocate added she welcomed the statement of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who stated that the Marcos administration honor its commitments with the Interpol should the ICC issue a “red notice” against the former president.
“I welcome the pronouncement of Malacañang that the Philippine Government, at long last, will cooperate with the ICC and Interpol, should they serve arrest warrants against Duterte and his cohorts,” De Lima said.
“I hope they (ICC investigators) come soon, so justice and healing may finally start for the families of all the victims of Duterte’s crimes,” the former senator and Justice secretary added. De Lima noted that all the witnesses presented by the Duterte government against her recanted their statements.
At the interpellation of Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, De Lima reiterated her plan to file appropriate “criminal and civil” counter lawsuits against those responsible for her nearly seven-year incarceration due to “fabricated,” politically motivated charges.
