Sen. Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/Jilson Seckler Tiu
Senator Leila de Lima revealed on Thursday that she had met with a “high official” in Malacañang about her move to have the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) investigated at the Senate but no offer of reconciliation had been made during that meeting.
De Lima made the disclosure when asked in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel’s “Headstart” if it was true that President Rodrigo Duterte had sent an emissary to her twice.
“No, that’s not true. That’s not accurate. The only thing that I remember is that a fellow Bedan arranged a meeting, a cordial, informal meeting between me and a high official in the Palace,” she said.
“I don’t have the authority to disclose (the name of the official) but he’s high enough,” said the senator.
De Lima did not say when the meeting took place, except that it was arranged after she filed a resolution, seeking a Senate inquiry into the killings.
BACKSTORY: De Lima pushes Senate probe on summary killings
“But there was no offer of anything, of reconciliation. You know, I was explaining my side why I had to file the resolution calling for the inquiry and the high official also was saying something like the President is so sensitive about the issue, about being the subject of an inquiry into EJKs, about human rights,” she said.
The senator said the high official claimed that the meeting had a clearance from the President.
Asked by anchor Karen Davila if it was possible that the President felt rejected by her, De Lima said: “I don’t know. Because first, there was no offer of anything of reconciliation or what.”
“It was just expressing my side, you know I was saying why I had to file that resolution because you know I stand for upholding human rights. It’s not acceptable to me that there are daily killings…” said the senator.
De Lima was the head of the Commission on Human Rights during the time of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when the body investigated Duterte for his alleged involvement in the so-called Davao Death Squad when the latter was still mayor of Davao City.
Now, the President is accusing de Lima for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. IDL
READ: Duterte: De Lima ‘allowed’ illegal drug trade inside Bilibid