Leila: I have no love life now

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Leila de Lima yesterday took offense at insinuations about her amorous relationship with her aides, stressing that she does not have a love life at the moment.

At the continuation of the House inquiry into the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison, convict Jaybee Sebastian claimed that he heard rumors that a certain “Makoy” or McCoy was the new boyfriend of De Lima.

“For the record, I don’t have a lover now. I don’t have a boyfriend now. I wish I had one so that he will take care of me. I am at my lowest moments because of what’s happening to me and what’s being done to me,” De Lima said.

She said she expects allegations that all her former security aides became her boyfriends.

De Lima was unperturbed by the latest revelations at the House inquiry, saying Sebastian was pressured to testify against her.

She said she was not closely monitoring the proceedings as the “lies” being made at the hearings might harm her health.

“Apparently and obviously, Jaybee Sebastian has been pushed to the wall. Apparently and obviously, he could no longer bear the pressure,” De Lima told reporters.

She said an “A-1” source told her that Sebastian’s wife had repeatedly pleaded with him to testify against her as “it is only De Lima that they are after and she will understand.”

De Lima added she was not surprised that her former bodyguard, Joenel Sanchez, was also experiencing pressure to tag her as a protector of drug lords.

Crying time

De Lima, however, admitted that unlike before, she is now unable to hide her emotions, being in the eye of controversy.

In another interview at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ chapel where she attended a mass in commemoration of World Day Against Death Penalty, De Lima shed tears, lamenting the character assassination being made against her. – With Evelyn Macairan