Another word war has ensued, this time between Senators Leila de Lima and Panfilo Lacson.
De Lima confronted Lacson on Wednesday over the latter’s statement that there was enough evidence to file a case against her based on the affidavits of some witnesses, who testified at the Senate linking her into the illegal drug trade.
“Akala ko ba pinagtatawanan lang ni Sen. Ping (Lacson) itong persecution and harassments being done to me, as he recalls his own harrowing experience with the Mawanay episode,” the lady senator said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Why is Sen. Ping saying now, based on media reports, that there’s enough basis to now file charges against me prescinding from what transpired at yesterday’s House hearing? Is he convinced of the authenticity and veracity of the ‘stories’ of those obviously perjured witnesses?”
“I’m aghast by some people’s propensity for doublespeak,” de Lima said.
But Lacson stood by his statement, saying there was probable cause to charge her in court, which could also lead to the issuance of a warrant of arrest against her.
“I can bet on that,” he said in a text message when asked if he was standing by his statements.
“Based on the affidavits that I read and other pieces of evidence once the preliminary investigation against her is concluded at the DOJ (Department of Justice), we will see that probable cause exists, hence a warrant for her arrest will be issue,” Lacson said.
READ: Senate body to tackle form, substance of complaint vs De Lima
He said de Lima also “got it all wrong” when he said that he was just “laughing” at what she is going through now.
“She got it all wrong. When I said pinagtatawanan ko lang yung pinagdadaanan niya ngayon compared to what I experienced before, I wasn’t referring to the credibility of evidence being presented against her now and against me before but the degree of harassment that ex PGMA and her cohorts in practically all the agencies of government were throwing against me,” Lacson said.
PGMA is former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“I was all alone at that time. I had practically nobody on my side except probably my family, while she has her LP (Liberal Party ) allies supporting her now. She shouldn’t be twisting my statement to suit her purpose,” Lacson added.
It was during the time of the former leader and de Lima as Justice Secretary when Lacson went into hiding in 2010 in connection with 2000 double murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver.