FILE PHOTO: DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Calls to give former senator Leila de Lima a furlough after the hostage-taking incident inside her detention area are understandable but such a procedure is “a judicial thing,” Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Wednesday.
At the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Abalos recognized the value of even a short period of freedom for a detainee as he was asked about his thoughts on pleas to allow de Lima a break out of the Custodial Facility in Camp Crame – the headquarters of the Philippine National Police.
“Well, yes, basically it’s a judicial thing, it’s not on the executive no, but I could just imagine – for a detainee, a furlough is a very big thing. Remember before, my dad was also incarcerated, almost one year. So for us, one day, even just seeing him during hearings, riding in a car with him, you would be very happy already,” he replied while also recalling the detention of his father, current Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr.
The former Commission on Elections chair was detained in 2011 after being accused of rigging the 2007 midterm elections in favor of then-president – now Deputy Speaker – Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“Mahirap talaga (It is really difficult). So, I could just understand itong (this) furlough na ito. But again, I would like to reiterate, it’s for our judicial system, for the judiciary (to decide),” the chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) added.
Since de Lima was the secretary of the Department of Justice when Abalos’ father was arrested for alleged election sabotage, he was also asked what he could say about her imprisonment.
His reply: “Well such things happen, I think my dad was incarcerated for close to eight months at that time, it was really hard because we were there almost everyday, including Christmas, my mother also seemed incarcerated because she was always visiting my dad.”
“That’s why when I saw Senator de Lima, memories of my father detained came back to me. It gave me a pain in the heart. I really wanted to hug her but it’s a good thing I didn’t because I didn’t know I was already COVID positive then,” he added.
Although he said he is not showing any symptoms, Abalos is now under home quarantine as he tested positive for the coronavirus again.
De Lima, meanwhile, tested negative for COVID-19. But she has been admitted to a hospital for chest pains following Sunday’s hostage-taking incident.
READ: Call for de Lima’s release mounts online after foiled hostage attempt
Since 2017, de Lima has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center on drug charges which she repeatedly denied and branded as “trumped-up.” Some of the drug charges against her have either been dropped or dismissed as a number of witnesses against her have already retracted their testimonies.