MANILA, Philippines — As early as August this year, former Senator Leila de Lima had been offered by the police to be transferred to another detention facility, but she declined.
Former Senator Panfilo Lacson said this on Sunday after a failed attempt to hold De Lima hostage at Camp Crame Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Quezon City.
READ: De Lima survives hostage-taking attempt; hostage-taker gunned down
De Lima has been detained at the custodial center since February 2017.
“What is not known to many, an offer for transfer was already made by the PNP to Sen. De Lima as early as mid-August this year on the occasion of the US Congressional delegation visit led by Senator (Edward) Markey, the reason being: the PNP Custodial Center is primarily designed for high-value criminals and high-risk terrorists,” Lacson, who once headed the Philippine National Police, said in a text message to reporters.
Markey was among the US lawmakers who were allowed to visit De Lima last August.
READ: US lawmakers visit De Lima in detention
“Unfortunately, the former senator declined the offer and opted to stay where she is presently detained,” Lacson went on.
“That all being said, and without intending to preempt the authorities, high-risk detainees who are members of an internationally proscribed terrorist organization like the Abu Sayyaf Group should be isolated and not mixed with the other PDL’s (persons deprived of liberty).
“That, I assume will be part of the recommendations in an investigation now being conducted,” Lacson added.
Meanwhile, De Lima’s legal counsel Atty. Boni Tacardon, in a message to INQUIRER.net, confirmed that there was indeed an offer and that the former senator declined, but the offer was made due to the confusion brought by the PNP after it tried to prevent the US Senator from visiting De Lima, rather than security issues.
“That offer was not premised on security issues. The offer was made because of the confusion brought about by the decision of PNP to initially prevent Sen. Markey in his scheduled visit to Sen Leila last August 2022,” explained Tacardon.
Following the foiled hostage-taking of De Lima, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself said he would ask her if she would like to be transferred to another detention facility.
READ: Bongbong Marcos to offer De Lima transfer to another detention facility