De Lima on being a magnet of controversy: ‘So be it’

“I NEVER want to be controversial,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Wednesday, reacting to a lawyer who spoke out that she was using the arrest of the Reyes brothers to get media exposure.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel for former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, who were both accused in the death of broadcast journalist Gerry Ortega, lamented that “many are jumping in to make ‘epal’ on the repatriation” of his clients. He specifically mentioned the names of Senate President Franklin Drilon and de Lima.

READ: Drilon, de Lima hit for ‘epal’ remarks on Reyes brothers’ arrest

Sought for comment after attending a budget hearing in the Senate, de Lima said: “There we are again. You know these things just fall on my lap. I mean bakit every time na gagawin ko ang trabaho ko, ganun ang sinasabi, nakiki-ride?”

“I am not that kind of person. Now, if I become controversial because of my handling and involvement in certain high profile cases, that’s only coincidental.”

“I never want to be controversial but if that’s the price I have to pay for doing my job being, the so-called controversial, then so be it pero yung nagra-ride on baka baligtad. Sila, at my expense,” she further said.

Before this, De Lima was gamely answering questions about her political plans in 2016, specially her high ranking in the latest Social Weather Station survey.

But the Justice chief declined to say yet if she would run under the senatorial ticket of the administration.

“If indeed nandyan ako sa listahan, sa official ticket ng administration then that’s the time that I will have to make a categorical acceptance,” said the Justice Secretary.