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| Shocking Photos of PNoy and De Lima with the Drug Lords Inside Bilibid. |
DE LIMA: WHAT CASES? CODDLING DRUG PUSHERS?
By JP LOPEZ
July 12, 2016
SEN. Leila de Lima is unfazed by charges being eyed by the Office of the Solicitor General against her for her failure to curb drug trafficking at the National Penitentiary which was under her supervision while she was justice secretary in the Aquino administration.
“What case are they going to file against me? I’m also involved in drugs?... I won’t be surprised… They will start labeling me protector, coddler also. It’s crazy!” she said.
De Lima also lashed back at Solicitor General Jose Calida who said her proposed investigation into the killing of suspected drug pushers could be “in aid of media mileage.”
De Lima has yet to file her resolution calling for an inquiry into the alleged summary execution of suspected drug pushers. Police have killed 103 drug suspects from May 10 to July 3.
“That’s not for him to say that. I’m sure of myself. I’m sure that in filing the resolution, that it’s in aid of legislation. I know what is the nature of Senate inquiry. I have read the rules,” said De Lima, a neophyte senator.
She also said if the PNP is confident that the killings of suspected drug pushers are aboveboard, it should welcome the inquiry.
She warned policemen who would repeatedly snub her proposed hearing that they would be cited in contempt.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III expressed reservation over the holding of an investigation on the matter.
“Not the right time. We should let the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) and Napolcom do their job first before we think of legislation befitting the events,” he said.
Senate President Franklin Drilon sided with De Lima, telling Calida that he could not stop the Senate from investigating the summary execution of suspected drug dealers.
He also said Calida’s remarks “undermine the independence of the Senate and our very own democracy.”
“I am alarmed by the remarks made by Calida. His remarks were uncalled for and reek of arrogance, unbecoming of a solicitor general,” Drilon said.
“What is he afraid of?” he added.
Drilon also said Calida “should not interfere nor impede any legislative inquiry of the Senate.”
“As a lawyer, he should be aware that the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the power of the Senate to conduct investigations as constitutional and legitimate,” Drilon said.
Drilon also said that Calida’s action is not only an affront to the power of the Senate but also compromises the effort of the President to foster transparency and accountability under his presidency.
DDS TIME
De Lima likened the killing of suspected drug pushers to the time when “Davao Death Squad” (DDS) was active in Davao City.
“I just want to stress that what is happening today is like when the Davao Death Squad was very active. I noticed that there was no outrage from the community, from the society and this is alarming,” she said.
DDS, a vigilante group in Davao City, was reportedly formed during the second term of now President Duterte as city mayor.
Duterte, who assumed the presidency on June 30, has vowed to eliminate corruption and crime, particularly drug trafficking, in the first three to six months of his administration.
Several human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the UN General Assembly of the Human Rights Council, have said Duterte has done nothing to prevent these killings, and showed his support for the killings through his public comments.
The Commission on Human Rights, which De Lima chaired during the Arroyo administration, has also investigated the killings in Davao City, especially the involvement of DDS.
She said no witness filed an affidavit that can be used as evidence, and a few policemen were charged in court when she was still CHR chair.
De Lima has said Duterte’s hard-line position against illegal drugs and other crimes condones and even promotes extra-judicial killings.
She aired suspicions that some of those killed were actually police assets who were silenced to keep them from exposing the truth.
The senator also said only “small fry” have been either arrested or killed since Duterte won the May 9 elections.
“Wala pa tayong nakikitang naarestong big-time drug lords although yung iba, nasa bilibid na… ‘yung mga big dealers, wala pa din akong naririnig na nagre-raid sa mga posh and exclusive clubs na lantaran din daw ang dealing ng ecstasy… night clubs catering to high society people,” she said.
“What case are they going to file against me? I’m also involved in drugs?... I won’t be surprised… They will start labeling me protector, coddler also. It’s crazy!” she said.
De Lima also lashed back at Solicitor General Jose Calida who said her proposed investigation into the killing of suspected drug pushers could be “in aid of media mileage.”
De Lima has yet to file her resolution calling for an inquiry into the alleged summary execution of suspected drug pushers. Police have killed 103 drug suspects from May 10 to July 3.
“That’s not for him to say that. I’m sure of myself. I’m sure that in filing the resolution, that it’s in aid of legislation. I know what is the nature of Senate inquiry. I have read the rules,” said De Lima, a neophyte senator.
She also said if the PNP is confident that the killings of suspected drug pushers are aboveboard, it should welcome the inquiry.
She warned policemen who would repeatedly snub her proposed hearing that they would be cited in contempt.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III expressed reservation over the holding of an investigation on the matter.
“Not the right time. We should let the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) and Napolcom do their job first before we think of legislation befitting the events,” he said.
Senate President Franklin Drilon sided with De Lima, telling Calida that he could not stop the Senate from investigating the summary execution of suspected drug dealers.
He also said Calida’s remarks “undermine the independence of the Senate and our very own democracy.”
“I am alarmed by the remarks made by Calida. His remarks were uncalled for and reek of arrogance, unbecoming of a solicitor general,” Drilon said.
“What is he afraid of?” he added.
Drilon also said Calida “should not interfere nor impede any legislative inquiry of the Senate.”
“As a lawyer, he should be aware that the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the power of the Senate to conduct investigations as constitutional and legitimate,” Drilon said.
Drilon also said that Calida’s action is not only an affront to the power of the Senate but also compromises the effort of the President to foster transparency and accountability under his presidency.
DDS TIME
De Lima likened the killing of suspected drug pushers to the time when “Davao Death Squad” (DDS) was active in Davao City.
“I just want to stress that what is happening today is like when the Davao Death Squad was very active. I noticed that there was no outrage from the community, from the society and this is alarming,” she said.
DDS, a vigilante group in Davao City, was reportedly formed during the second term of now President Duterte as city mayor.
Duterte, who assumed the presidency on June 30, has vowed to eliminate corruption and crime, particularly drug trafficking, in the first three to six months of his administration.
Several human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the UN General Assembly of the Human Rights Council, have said Duterte has done nothing to prevent these killings, and showed his support for the killings through his public comments.
The Commission on Human Rights, which De Lima chaired during the Arroyo administration, has also investigated the killings in Davao City, especially the involvement of DDS.
She said no witness filed an affidavit that can be used as evidence, and a few policemen were charged in court when she was still CHR chair.
De Lima has said Duterte’s hard-line position against illegal drugs and other crimes condones and even promotes extra-judicial killings.
She aired suspicions that some of those killed were actually police assets who were silenced to keep them from exposing the truth.
The senator also said only “small fry” have been either arrested or killed since Duterte won the May 9 elections.
“Wala pa tayong nakikitang naarestong big-time drug lords although yung iba, nasa bilibid na… ‘yung mga big dealers, wala pa din akong naririnig na nagre-raid sa mga posh and exclusive clubs na lantaran din daw ang dealing ng ecstasy… night clubs catering to high society people,” she said.
Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/de-lima-what-cases-coddling-drug-pushers
