Panelo: De Lima should be probed for proliferation of drugs

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo (INQUIRER PHOTO)

Sen. Leila de Lima should be investigated over the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, particularly at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her term as justice secretary, according to presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo.

“Siya nga ang dapat na imbestigahan. Siya ang dapat imbestigahan kung bakit during her watch, eh dumami ang naging involved sa drugs, dumami ang drug lord,” Panelo said in an interview over state-run dzRB radio on Saturday.

De Lima served as justice secretary for six years during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.

Panelo said the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa turned into a “factory of drugs” during De Lima’s stint at the Department of Justice.

“Iyan ang dapat na imbestigahan, and she should be liable for that,” he said.

De Lima earlier filed a resolution urging the Senate to conduct an investigation on the series of killings of drug suspects.

READ: De Lima calls for inquiry into spate of drug killings

But Panelo turned the tables on De Lima, calling for an investigation against the neophyte senator.

“Dapat lang, dapat,” Panelo said when asked if De Lima should be investigated.

Presumptive Speaker Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez earlier also called for an inquiry on De Lima over illegal drugs.

READ: Alvarez calls for House probe on De Lima over drug problem

Alvarez said he would file a resolution to probe the former justice secretary over the illegal drugs trade inside the national penitentiary.

An INQUIRER.net count since June 30 showed that at least 331 people have been killed in police operations against illegal drugs.

READ: The Kill List