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De Lima trying to get sympathy of voters: Palace

By Azer Parrocha

April 5, 2022, 6:35 pm

<p>Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar <em>(File photo)</em></p>

Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (File photo)

MANILA – Detained opposition Senator Leila de Lima, who is seeking another term in the Senate, is trying to gain the sympathy of Filipino voters with barely a month before the May 9 polls, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar made this statement in response to de Lima’s remark that the topic about her case raised during the recent Commission on Elections (Comelec) presidential debate, highlighted how President Rodrigo Roa Duterte “created a culture of fear as some presidentiables were obviously reluctant to speak up on the said issue.”

“Senator Leila de Lima's latest remarks are spoken in the middle of the campaign season. It is therefore understandable she wants to get the sympathy vote from the Filipino electorate,” Andanar said in a press statement.

During the second Comelec-sponsored debate, three presidential aspirants were asked to weigh in on whether de Lima should be freed or not.

De Lima, one of Duterte's staunchest critics, has been in detention since February 2017 for allegedly conspiring to run a drug trafficking ring inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was Justice secretary.

She has repeatedly denied these charges.

Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said de Lima should be allowed to exercise her right to defend herself in court.

Labor leader Leody de Guzman said de Lima should be released, noting that her detention was Duterte's "revenge" against her after she probed the so-called Davao Death Squad in 2009.

De Lima is among the guest candidates under de Guzman's Senate slate. He has repeatedly said he believes de Lima is a “victim” of a malicious attack under the Duterte regime.

In a Tweet, she thanked de Guzman for vowing to give her justice should he be elected as president.

Andanar said he respected the opinions of all presidential bets, but noted that the detained senator has already had the chance to defend herself.

“While we respect the opinions of the presidentiables who gave their stance on Senator De Lima's detention, we have to underscore that the senator has been accorded due process in all stages of her criminal prosecution,” Andanar said.

He underscored the importance of adhering to the rule of law.

“The rule of law, as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in numerous occasions, must always prevail,” he added. (PNA)

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