New ethics complaint filed vs De Lima

Sen. Leila de Lima INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — A new ethics complaint was filed against embattled Sen. Leila de Lima on Tuesday night, just as she faced accusations from a lineup of witnesses testifying on her alleged drug links at the House of Representatives.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, chair of the Senate committee on ethics and privileges, said Wednesday that he has yet to read the complaint, the second to be filed against the junior Senator since President Rodrigo Duterte tagged her in the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prisons during her time as Justice Secretary.

Sotto said he has yet to read the new complaint and does not know yet who filed. He also could not release details until his colleagues in the committee have read it.
The complaint apparently came in the form of a letter, and hand-delivered to the committee office Tuesday night.

“[It’s from a] different complainant. I haven’t seen it. The committee just informed me that somebody came over last night with a new complaint,” Sotto told reporters.

He said the committee will discuss the new complaint along with the amended complaint earlier filed by lawyer Abelardo de Jesus, who based his case against De Lima on the President’s revelations.

READ: Senate ethics body to expedite decision on complaint vs De Lima

De Lima has repeatedly denied her links to drug convicts.

“That is the reason we are still in the issue of whether we have jurisdiction or not. Hopefully by next week, I’m sure all the members have already read their copies of the amended complaint,” said Sotto.

“And the letter, I will make sure that the letter we received last night, the new complaint that was filed last night, I’ll make sure all members get a copy,” he said. CDG

READ: LOOK: Affidavits vs De Lima over alleged Bilibid drug trade