De Lima on House justice body report: A sham conclusion

Senator Leila de Lima. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

A “sham” conclusion.

This was how Senator Leila de Lima described on Wednesday the findings of the House of Representatives committee on justice that all pieces of evidence pointed to her alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison when she was still Justice Secretary.

“Meaning, the lies are sufficient? What evidence are they talking about?” De Lima said when told that the panel supposedly found sufficient evidence against her.

She said the convicted felons, who testified against her in the House inquiry, were “lying,” and “perjured” witnesses.

“And when they say that okay we’re not recommending the prosecution of Senator de Lima, we’re just asking na lang the DOJ (Department of Justice) to undertake further investigation, that means they are practically telling the DOJ to invent pa more, invent pa more lies,” the senator.

“If they believe that the evidence are sufficient, then they should recommend for my prosecution so ano yan (what is that)?” she said.

While saying that all the evidence pointed to De Lima’s involvement and possible accountability in the illegal drug trade, the House panel decided to just leave it up to the DOJ or the Ombudsman to determine the appropriate charges that should be filed against her.

READ: House justice body: Bilibid drugs flourished under De Lima’s watch

The senator said this decision of the panel only showed that there was no evidence against her.

“Now they are saying there is sufficient evidence but they are not recommending prosecution. So that’s ironic, that’s a self contradictory,” De Lima said.

“It’s a sham conclusion,” she added. RAM