SENATOR Leila De Lima on Thursday lashed out at President Rodrigo Dutere for abusing and misusing executive power when he accused her of being an “immoral woman” and an “adulterer” for having a married man—her driver, as a lover and as a collector of drug money.
“I don’t think the Constitution has ever contemplated such abuse of power on such scale, as it assumes every President to conduct himself in a manner befitting the office he holds,” said De Lima.
“It seems that this is not the case for this President,” said De Lima of Duterte who also had recently picked up a fight with Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
A visibly upset De Lima said words could not express what she was feeling right now.
“I guess no one can, because no one has ever been attacked in such a manner by no less than the highest official of the land, until now,” she said
“How does one defend oneself, when the attacker is immune from suit, and has all the backing of executive power to support him in his personal attack?” she asked.
If this is his way of stopping the Senate’s investigation on the extrajudicial killings, De Lima said the President can try until he finally silences her or the Senate.
“But I think it is already clear that what is being done to me is what will happen to anyone who does not bow to the wishes of the President. If stopping the Senate investigation is the only way for these personal attacks by the President and his men to also stop, believe me I have already thought about that,” also said De Lima.
De Lima, whose marriage had been annulled, said she was hurt, scared and worried for her family and her loved ones.
She said she had considered stopping the investigation into the spate of summary executions of drug suspects, if this was what Duterte wanted to end the personal attacks on her.
“It also entered my mind to stop the investigation in exchange for a peaceful life. But if I do that, it would appear that I have turned my back on my own person, and betrayed my own convictions and beliefs. I would no longer stand as the public’s representative in the Senate…. It would seem that I have buried my own person.”
The former Justice secretary said he would rather have Duterte and his administration bury her rather than she burying herself. She also said she knew the present administration was preparing charges against her, but said she is ready to face them.
If she will be afforded by the government the opportunity, she would explain herself and give her side, she said.
De Lima said she has received information that evidence against her would be fabricated and that she would continue to be maligned if she did not stop criticizing the policies of the administration.
“I hope you have not shut your mind from hearing my side before you continue destroying my image before the public and nation,” she said. “Please give me the chance to defend myself, especially in this situation where the nation’s President has declared that he is my enemy and is personally accusing me.”
Addressing Duterte directly, she added: “You are the President. I am only a senator. I only ask for a fair fight. I hope you grant me that which the law and the Constitution provide to an accused under the legal system,” she added,
But if the President were bent on destroying her, De Lima said, Duterte should have the decency to spare her colleagues, friends and family.
“Enough of the intimidation and shaming. Let’s go back to the orderliness set by the law and by basic respect for a fellow man,” she said.
She also said her committee would be fair in investigating the spate of killings of drug suspects.
“I have always been loyal to my oath as a public servant. I am not the enemy here. Stop portraying me as one. I ask the nation to continue praying with me, for me, for the President, and for the country,” said De Lima.
Senators in De Lima’s Liberal Party threw their support behind her.
“The Liberal Party will stand by and support Senator De Lima,” LP vice chairman and Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon said in a text message to reporters Wednesday night.
Drilon said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Duterte’s key ally, should take a stand on the “unprecedented attack on a senator.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Senate should rise to the occasion and defend the integrity of one of its members. Hontiveros is a senator of the Akbayan Party list, which is in coalition with the LP in the Senate.
She described Duterte’s attacks as “unpresidential” and a “breach of parliamentary courtesy.”
As a woman, Hontiveros said she was offended by Duterte’s attacks on De Lima.