Roque wishes De Lima a lifetime in jail

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (left) said he wished Sen. Leila de Lima (right) to spend the rest of her life in jail. INQUIRER FILES

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday hit back at detained Senator Leila de Lima for saying the Palace official has “bartered his dignity and reputation as a human rights lawyer.”

“May you spend the rest of your life in jail. Goodbye,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Roque’s comment was sought after de Lima in a statement said that the Palace official “has sold his own identity in exchange for a possible Senate run.”

Roque earlier greeted De Lima a “happy anniversary” during her first year in detention.

READ: Malacañang greets De Lima a happy anniversary in jail

De Lima, one of the staunchest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained at the custodial center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on drug charges.

The senator has repeatedly denied the charges against her, claiming she was being persecuted by the government because of her criticisms on the bloody war on drugs. /cbb