VACC calls for De Lima resignation

MANILA, Philippines – The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) has called for the resignation of Sen. Leila de Lima after filing criminal and disbarment charges against her.

VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez said it would be better for the embattled senator to leave her post to allow impartial investigations on the charges against her, especially by her former subordinates in the Department of Justice (DOJ) where she served as secretary in the previous administration.

“It will be better for Senator De Lima to resign for the good of public service,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Jimenez also said that VACC and other organizations against crimes, illegal drugs and government corruption would initiate a “Resign De Lima” movement for this purpose after the Halloween holidays this week.

The VACC earlier filed with the DOJ drug trafficking charges against De Lima for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison as bared in the House of Representatives inquiry last month.

Last week, VACC also filed a disbarment complaint against De Lima over her reported extramarital affair with her former driver Ronnie Dayan.

The VACC was joined by former National Bureau of Investigation deputy directors Ruel Lasala and Reynaldo Esmeralda in filing both complaints.

VACC lawyer Ferdinand Topacio also urged De Lima to refrain from muddling the issues against her by finger-pointing and blaming certain personalities for her ordeal.

“De Lima is trying to muddle the issue by finger-pointing when she should be explaining to the people why scores of witnesses – not only Bilibid inmates, but former subordinates, aides and colleagues in the Department of Justice – have testified clearly and emphatically under oath, that she has masterminded the transformation of the New Bilibid Prison into the hub of the nationwide drug trade, making the NBP into her personal cash cow whereby she was able to raise hundreds of millions to use for her election bid and to provide for the fancies of her lovers,” he said in a statement.