Umali slams sorority sister De Lima for Bilibid probe snub

House of Representatives justice committee chairperson Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali on Thursday slammed Senator Leila de Lima for snubbing the House probe on the proliferation of drugs at the New Bilibid Prison.

In his opening speech at the reopening of the House inquiry in aid of legislation, Umali quoted from the committee report which lamented De Lima’s absence in today’s hearing even in the presence of star witness Ronnie Dayan, De Lima’s former driver, lover and alleged bagman.

When Dayan limped his way to his seat, Umali said no one would even believe that Dayan was forced or threatened to testify.

READ: House panel chair says BIlibid probe not about De Lima

“Gwapong gwapo si Dayan. Yung mga nagsasabing he was under duress, walang maniniwala,” Umali said.

Umali read from the committee report which read that the “committee laments the failure of De Lima to attend the hearings despite several invitations including today’s hearing, as it showed her lack of respect to a co-equal chamber.”

“Her refusal to attend the legislative inquiry is also inconsistent with the mandate given to her with the Constitution … which states that public office is a public trust and that public officers must all times be accountable to the people and this is the House of the people,” Umali said in reading out the report.

“You must give Congress due respect it highly deserves, even if you’re a member of co-equal chamber who enjoys interparliamentary courtesy,” Umali said.

De Lima belongs to the Lambda Rho Sigma sorority. Umali is a member of the Lambda Rho Beta fraternity.

Umali was a partymate of De Lima in the Liberal Party during the previous 16th Congress before he jumped to President Rodrigo Duterte’s party Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan in the 17th Congress.

Umali is also the brother of Liberal Party treasurer Alfonso Umali. CDG/rga

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