De Lima says no ‘karma’ in current plight

What karma?

This was how beleaguered Senator Leila de Lima responded on Thursday when asked in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s “Headstart” about some people’s opinion that she was hit by karma when she stopped then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from leaving the country in 2011.

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De Lima was the Secretary of the Department of Justice when it included Arroyo in the watchlist order, preventing the former leader from seeking medical treatment abroad.

“Wow, why should there be a karma there? I was doing my job,” the neophyte senator said.

She did not rule out the possibility though that Arroyo might have also joined forces with other people allegedly out to destroy her by linking her into the illegal drug trade.

“That’s not at all remote because I see the joining of forces here, the confluence of interests in trying to really destroy me,” the senator said.

“That’s why my analysis is that other than the personal vendetta of the President because he would not forgive me yung stance ko noon sa DDS (Davao Death Squad) in 2009, other than that naggagatungan lang kasi yan, ang Pangulo. There are elements taking advantage, exploiting the sentiments of the President towards me,” she said.

De Lima was chair of the Commission on Human Rights when she investigated then Davao City Mayor Duterte for his alleged involvement in the DDS.

Now as senator, she also initiated a Senate probe into the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country since Duterte’s assumption in office.

Asked if she received any advice from former President Benigno Aquino III, De Lima said they had a conversation and was told to be strong and keep her cool.

“As always, he (Aquino) would just tell me just do your job and do what’s the right thing to do. He would also say something like cool ka lang, take care of yourself, be strong,” she said. CBB/rga