De lima mum on Puno

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. JOSEPH VIDAL/PRIB FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima opted to stay mum on the investigations being conducted by the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“At this point, I don’t want to be making statements on that yet. You know, I have first to think about the possible repercussions. It’s not that we’re concealing something, there’s nothing to conceal here, only that you have to understand our position as cabinet secretaries,” DeLima told reporters Monday.

While in Russia, President Benigno Aquino III confirmed that he ordered DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno. However, there were reports that Puno himself is being investigated by Robredo.

DeLima, a colleague and personal friend of Robredo said there are matters that Robredo mentioned of certain probes he was conducting but refused to give details.

“Mahirap magkomento dahil lalaki ng lalaki lang yan,” De Lima said.

She explained that she was the one who reminded President Aquino of the need to secure documents in possession of Sec. Robredo. She said she called the President the night of Aug. 18.
“I think it behooves us to take the necessary safeguards…. anything is possible. If sensitive matters are being investigated by someone like Sec. Jesse, and he was in a position to really make such investigations, then kailangan lang naman maging maingat. You know, you can never tell. Unscrupulous elements might resort to something like that,” De Lima said.

She also confirmed having been requested by Robredo’s wife, Leni, to secure personal effects in the family’s condominium unit in Quezon City.