Trillanes hits lawmakers who had a hand in De Lima’s detention

Leila de Lima

MANILA, Philippines — After another retraction of accusations against Senator Leila de Lima, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday called out lawmakers who “fanned the flame in this made-up controversy” against the detained legislator.

De Lima has been in custody since February 2017 at the PNP Custodial Center while drug charges filed against her are being heard by the trial courts. The lady senator, who remained to be one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s critics, claimed the charges were just “trumped up.”

In joining calls to free De Lima, Trillanes sought to turn the tables against lawmakers who had a hand in her alleged persecution.

“Let us also not forget the lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives who fanned the flame in this made-up controversy involving Sen. De Lima. Kilala nyo na kung sino kayo. Your hands are equally dirty for aiding in putting Sen. De Lima in detention,” Trillanes said in a statement.

On Sunday, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos recanted his allegations against De Lima connecting her to the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

This came on the heels of the recantation of self-confessed drug trader Kerwin Espinosa in his counter-affidavit that de Lima had allowed the illegal drug trade to flourish at the New Bilibid Prisons while she was the secretary of the Department of Justice.

“With the recent retraction made by key witnesses of their testimonies in the bogus charges filed against sitting Sen. Leila De Lima, this saga has but one logical conclusion: free Sen. De Lima and hold accountable those responsible for this great injustice,” Trillanes said.

He also appealed to those involved in what he described as the “elaborate crime to imprison a sitting senator” to come forward.

“Now is the time to let your conscience decide for you. Magkaroon naman kayo ng integridad [Show a little integrity],” Trillanes said. “If you choose not to, then we will hold you accountable sa nangyari kay [to what happened with] Sen. De Lima.”

Trillanes, meanwhile, commended Ragos for coming forward.

The former BuCor official, in his affidavit, retracted his statements against De Lima, saying he was “coerced” to make accusations against the detained senator.

“Hindi biro ang katapangan na ipinamalas mo kahit may banta pa rin ito sa iyong buhay at sa iyong pamilya [The courage he showed despite the threat to your life and family is no joke],” Trillanes said.

He further stressed that it was now time to put an end to the “bogus” cases against De Lima.

“It is now time to set Sen. De Lima free. Her ordeal at the hands of the administration has been nothing short of painful and extremely demoralizing. Kung kaya nila itong gawin sa isang senador, paano pa kaya ang mga taong hindi kayang ipagtanggol ang kanilang mga sarili? [If they can do this to a senator, what more to those people who cannot defend themselves]” he added.

“This is political in nature, and there is an evil motive behind all of this. Sen. De Lima could not have done any of the crimes she has been charged with, and it took us almost five years to get through all the lies,” he said.

Both Trillanes and De Lima are running for the Senate in the May 9 polls under the slate of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo.

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