Palace defends De Lima against electioneering charge

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang said Wednesday it was deferring to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima with respect to the National Bureau of Investigation’s findings following its reinvestigation of the Vizconde massacre case.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, nonetheless, said the administration was standing by De Lima against allegations of electioneering the camp of Hubert Webb made against her.

“We will defer to Secretary De Lima about the NBI’s findings but we will defend her against charges of electioneering, etc.,” Lacierda said in a text message.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang retains full confidence in the justice secretary.

“While we defer to Secretary De Lima on the matter, we are confident that she continues to discharge her duties as justice secretary with fairness and objectivity,” Valte said.

De Lima on Tuesday presented the NBI’s findings that she said destroyed Webb’s alibi that he was in the US when the massacre happened in June 1991.