Sen. Trillanes calls for De Lima’s resignation

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has called for the resignation of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for her alleged failure to do her job after 14 months in office.

Trillanes said De Lima should just be appointed instead as a Malacanang spokesperson, noting her talent in public speaking.

“I hope that she [De Lima] would resign. Because we gave her enough time to do her job but she has not really done anything,” Trillanes told reporters in mixed English and Tagalog on Thursday.

“14 months na syang nakaupo, you tell me kung ano ang ginawa nya aside from the Hubert Webb fiasco [She has been in office for 14 months, you tell me what she has done aside from the Hubert Webb fiasco],” he said.

Trillanes even dared De Lima to prove him wrong by showing him a single case that she had initiated against anyone.

He noted that the cases filed at the Department of Justice against previous government officials were initiated by various agencies and not by the Secretary.

“She can prove me wrong by filing. In fact, I’m daring her to prove me wrong na may ginagawa sya [that she did something],” the senator said.

Trillanes said the government could make use of De Lima’s talent by hiring her as presidential spokesperson.

“To her credit, magaling syang magsalita [she speaks well],” he said.

I believe Malacanang if they really want to make use of the services of Secretary de Lima, they should assign her [as] presidential spokesperson,” Trillanes said.

“If the criteria is having the most number of presscons, then she’s the best. But that isn’t the point. Her job is to file cases which she has yet to do after 14 months,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.