MANILA -- Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday responded to the remarks made by Senator Leila de Lima calling him and his “principal” as “grossly unchristian” by pointing out that there is nothing more unchristian than the detained senator’s actions during her stint as Justice Secretary.
Earlier, De Lima said the Palace official should stop demonizing her since Roque and his so-called principal do not know her “true character.”
“I hope that you and your principal refrain from further demonizing me. Stop your pettiness too. Both of you. Grossly unchristian!” the lady senator said in a statement from her detention at the Philippine National Police’s Custodial Center in Quezon City.
De Lima’s statement was issued in response to Roque’s Wednesday remark that Pope Francis “doesn’t know the true nature of her character" after the Holy See gifted her with a rosary.
However, Roque pointed out that no one needs to know the true nature or character of the person to ascertain and establish what she is capable of doing.
“We just have to look at Senator Leila De Lima’s drug cases which were based on the testimonies of credible witnesses and documentary evidence. The gravity of the accusations hurled against her runs contrary to the incorruptible character she falsely portrayed when she was DOJ Secretary,” he said.
He also said that the Palace statements about the lady senator are information in relation to her position and conduct as a government official and public officer.
“We find nothing more unchristian than performing an action which counters the demeanor of a public official which Senator De Lima did when she arrogantly applied selective justice to the political opposition while enjoying her so-called frailties of a woman,” Roque said.
De Lima has been detained in Camp Crame since February 24 on three drug charges, including allegedly having a hand in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary, among others.
She also admitted to once having a romantic relationship with her former driver, Ronnie Dayan, calling it as part of her "frailties as a woman."
A sex video of De Lima and her lover has also been long-rumored to exist.
During her stint as Justice Secretary during the Aquino administration, De Lima blocked the departure of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo despite a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court (SC).
She was also instrumental in the imprisonment of former senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Revilla in connection with the “pork barrel scam.”
Arroyo, Enrile, and Estrada have already been freed while Revilla is still fighting for his temporary freedom.
Arroyo, a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is an incumbent Pampanga congresswoman. (PNA)
