MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday laughed off calls from the camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her to step down from office after the Dominican Republic denied rumors that the ailing former leader has applied for political asylum in the Caribbean nation.
“Why should I do that? Tell me. Why did I do wrong? I repeatedly said already that that information did not come from me,” De Lima told reporters in an ambush interview.
“I have also told you before that I would know when to resign. I would know when to quit. I don’t need somebody telling me that because I know exactly when to do that when confronted with the right circumstances,” she added.
Raul Lambino, Arroyo’s lawyer, said De Lima should resign after disclosing the “unverified information” about Arroyo and her family’s supposed plan to seek refuge in the Dominican Republic.
“De Lima … will do everything just to get media headlines. She is unbecoming and should resign now as justice secretary, if there is any bit of delicadeza (propriety) left in her human system,” Lambino said.