Senators point to rules, legalities on possible De Lima arrest
“Let’s cross the bridge when we get there,” was Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s response on Monday to the possible arrest of Senator Leila de Lima.
“I still have to consult our legal on all possibilities,” Sotto, chairman of the Senate committee on rules, said in a text message.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, in a television interview, said he would be forced to issue a warrant of arrest against De Lima if the latter would not respond to the show-cause order earlier issued by the chamber.
READ: Speaker won’t let go of De Lima, presses contempt charge
The show-cause order stemmed from De Lima’s alleged advice to her former driver and partner, Ronnie Dayan, against attending a House probe on the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison when she was still Justice Secretary.
Dayan, who testified in last week’s hearing of the House justice committee, alleged that he had collected money for De Lima from suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
De Lima, however, denied the allegation as well as any involvement in illegal drugs.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, took to Twitter to insist that both chambers of Congress have their own rules in disciplining their respective members.
“It’s not about protecting a member of the Senate. Rather, we both have out rules in disciplining our respective members. Let’s respect that,” Lacson said. CDG/rga
