De Lima says ex-PDEA exec being pressured to speak against her

Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, who has been charged in connection with illegal drugs, is allegedly being pressured by some groups to speak against Senator Leila de Lima, the senator herself disclosed on Thursday.

De Lima revealed to the media two text messages from Marcelino which were purportedly forwarded to her by her source.

The first text, she said was sent to her on July 19 where Marcelino supposedly said that there were some groups who were pressuring him to speak against her.

“Rest assured hindi ako pagagamit (I won’t be used),” De Lima quoted Marcelino as saying.

Last September 5, De Lima said another text message was forwarded to her by the source and she quoted Marcelino as saying that “pressures against me are mounting.”

De Lima said Marcelino reiterated in the last message that he would not give in to the pressures.

She said Marcelino, in the text message, had told her to keep her faith and to remain strong. CDG/rga

 READ: DOJ dismisses drug case vs Lt. Col. Marcelino