{"id":826205,"date":"2016-10-17T17:39:21","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T09:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/?p=826205"},"modified":"2016-10-17T19:19:01","modified_gmt":"2016-10-17T11:19:01","slug":"de-lima-so-what-was-the-house-inquiry-for-bilibid-drug-trade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/826205\/de-lima-so-what-was-the-house-inquiry-for-bilibid-drug-trade","title":{"rendered":"De Lima: So what was the House inquiry for?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Opposition<\/a>

Senator Leila De Lima. AP File Photo<\/p><\/div>\n

MANILA, Philippines\u2014 If they were not going to prosecute her anyway, what was the point of the inquiry?<\/p>\n\n

Sen. Leila de Lima had this question when asked to comment on the House committee on justice\u2019s decision to not recommend her prosecution for her alleged drug links, noting that the lengthy public hearings may have just been meant to shame her.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cOf course, it\u2019s good if that\u2019s the case,\u201d said De Lima, when told of the House committee\u2019s resolve to not recommend charges against her.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cBut remember, their inquiry was focused on me. So\u00a0para que \u2018yon\u00a0(So what was that for)?\u201d said\u00a0the senator.<\/p>\n\n

In testimonies\u00a0 touted by administration allies, high profile convicts\u00a0and even former National Bureau of Investigation officials accused De Lima of receiving money \u2014 \u00a0and even imposing quotas \u2014 \u00a0from illegal drug operations at the national penitentiary during her time as Justice Secretary.<\/p>\n\n

De Lima\u00a0 shunned the inquiry, calling it a sham only meant to embarrass her as she repeatedly denied the claims.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThey practically focused on me, and not really on the real problems of Bilibid. And now they\u2019re saying they\u2019re not gonna prosecute me or not gonna recommend to prosecute me. I don\u2019t know, but until we see the report of the house committee and its recommendations, it\u2019s hard to comment on that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n

But if such was the ending, why \u201cvillify\u201d her in the first place?<\/p>\n\n

\u201cSo what was the whole point of that inquiry? To shame me? They concentrated on personal matters to the point na parang binabastos na rin ako? To the point that they threatened to show the alleged sex video?\u201d De Lima said.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cSo what was that all about? That\u2019s why I was saying from day 1, I wasn\u2019t going to participate in that inquiry because I knew that the main objective of that is really just to villify me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n

During the house inquiry, several witnesses, including her own former aide,\u00a0 testified about her alleged romantic entanglements, even describing in detail an alleged intimate act involving the senator.<\/p>\n\n

She denied the allegations about her personal affairs as vehemently as she denied claims that she was involved in the Bilibid drug trade.\u00a0JE\/rga<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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De Lima won\u2019t attend House probe on drugs in Bilibid<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Solon wants De Lima investigated for hand in Bilibid riot<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

6 witnesses to pin De Lima on Bilibid drugs \u2013 DOJ<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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