Senator Leila de Lima (left) and former President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Former President Benigno Aquino III was worried about the safety of his close friend Senator Leila de Lima, who was arrested over drug charges, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Friday.
When the police arrested De Lima at the Senate in the morning, Pangilinan said Aquino called him to check on the situation of his former justice secretary.
“Nagkausap kami kaninang umaga. Syempre concerned din siya sa kaligtasan ni Senator Leila. Ang concern niya ‘yong safety and security (We got to talk this morning. He was concerned about the safety of Senator Leila. His concern was her safety and security),” Pangilinan told reporters staking out the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headquarters in Camp Crame.
READ: Palace assures De Lima’s safety after arrest
“(He) was inquiring and then I updated him sa sitwasyason sa kaligtasan niya na kasama niya ang Senate security habang nandito siya sa CIDG (on the situation of her security and told him that the Senate security were with her at the CIDG),” Pangilinan said.
READ: De Lima ‘composed,’ but BP slightly high after arrest
De Lima underwent booking procedures, including the taking of mugshot and fingerprints, at the CIDG headquarters before she was presented to the Muntinlupa court that ordered her arrest. IDL/rga
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