De Lima twits ‘master of disinformation’ Panelo

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Leila de Lima on Sunday hit back at presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo for claiming that the media and the opposition had “misled” a US Senate panel into issuing a resolution calling for her immediate release.

The senator called Panelo “the master of disinformation” and said she found his claim “funny.”

“Mr. Panelo, my case is a test case for your boss’ attempt to flex his tyrannical ambitions. The whole world knows that,” De Lima said in her usual handwritten message from her detention cell at Camp Crame.

“Those who are genuinely on the side of truth and justice can never be hoodwinked into believing that we have a fair justice system and a strong vibrant democracy [in the country],” she said.

Besides seeking De Lima’s freedom, the bipartisan resolution that the US Senate foreign relations committee approved last week also urged the Philippine government to withdraw the criminal charges against veteran journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.

The resolution was authored by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey and four other lawmakers. Markey said De Lima’s crime was “standing [up] for human rights and good governance in the Philippines.”