Call for de Lima’s release mounts online after foiled hostage attempt
Detained former senator Leila de Lima (file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — The foiled attempt to hostage of detained former senator Leila de Lima inside Camp Crame on Sunday reinforced online calls for her release.
#FreeLeilaNow trended on Twitter reaching the number 1 spot, with “Camp Crame” and “PNP Custodial facility” also trending due to the incident.
Three detainees also being held at the PNP Custodial Facility tried to escape by stabbing a police officer.
Two of them, Arnel Cabintoy and Idang Susukan, were shot dead by a responding police officer.
The third one, Feliciano Sulayao Jr., fled towards de Lima’s cell and briefly held her hostage.
He was eventually gunned down, too, by members of the PNP-Special Action Force.
Human Rights Watch Philippines said that it was high time for De Lima to be released, pointing out that she, herself has already been hostaged by the government for the past five years.
Meantime, former vice president Leni Robredo prayed for De Lima’s safety and eventual release, as well as for the recovery of the injured officer in Camp Crame.
Dasal namin ang iyong kaligtasan at tuluyang paglaya, Sen Leila. Ang atin ding dasal sa kaligtasan at agarang paggaling ni PCpl Roger Agustin. https://t.co/OjV6mxG8Fx
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) October 9, 2022
Robredo’s daughter, Tricia likewise called for the release of de Lima.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan’s Renato Reyes Jr., for his part, said that the hostage-taking “should be thoroughly investigated to determine if she was the target of some nefarious plan.”
“It has been 5 years of unjust detention. It is high time that she be released, #FreeLeilaDeLima. That is the least government can do,” he said.
#FreeLeilaDeLima. That is the least government can do.
— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) October 9, 2022
Lawyer and former senatorial candidate Erin Tañada, on the other hand, questioned how the detainee was able to reach de Lima’s cell, despite the facility being like a “maze.”
I visited SLeila a number of times. I know how difficult it is to get to where SLeila is held. It’s like a maze and there are security checkpoints and gates inside. I’m just curious how a detention prisoner was able to reach SLeila’s area without being stopped. #FreeLeilaNow
— Erin Tañada (@erintanada) October 9, 2022
“I know how difficult it is to get to where Leila is held. It’s like a maze and there are security checkpoints and gates inside. I’m just curious how a detention prisoner was able to reach Leila’s area without being stopped. #FreeLeilaNow,” he said.
De Lima has been detained since February 24, 2017 for drug-related charges which her camp said were “trumped up.”
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