Running for senator? De Lima still assessing if politics is for her

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Work in politics is not a problem, but the mudslinging is another thing, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday.

De Lima is reportedly being eyed as among the senatorial bets of the ruling Liberal Party.

But de Lima said there is still no formal offer from LP.

“We just have to wait for the formal invitation. If they do intend to sit with me and to formally discuss that, baka nagbibiro lang si Butch (Maybe Butch Abad is just joking),” de Lima said, reiterating that she is still in the process of consulting family and close friends who she said have different views.

“I will see the development in the coming weeks. Nag-uumpisa na nga ang political hit (political mudslinging has begun), I can see with all of this issues being hurled against somebody perceived to be a very viable (presidential aspirants),” de Lima said, referring to Senator Grace Poe.

READ: Leila de Lima for senator?

“So tinitingnan ko muna kung kaya ko pumasok sa mundo ng pulitika kasi hindi po ako sanay sa mundo ng pulitika…well kung trabaho syempre kaya po ‘yan pero the environment itself, I would not know if I’m cut out for it,” she added.

(I am still testing if I can enter the world of politics, because I am not really used to it. If it’s just work in the government, I can do it, but the environment itself, I would not know if I’m cut out for it.)

She said if she makes a decision, it has to be 100 percent because if she is half-hearted, she will not be an effective public servant.

De Lima said even now, people are already imputing motive on her duty like heading the agencies investigating the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

READ: De Lima: Duterte must be held criminally liable for ties with Davao Death Squad

“Kaya daw ako nakikialam kasi may political ambition daw ako. So, I don’t want people to attribute agenda, selfish agenda on my part for the things that I am doing as Secretary of Justice,” de Lima said. IDL