De Lima '100% safe' in prison, says Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima is "100-percent safe" at police headquarters Camp Crame, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday, as she advised his outspoken critic to pray for the truth to come out.

De Lima, who was arrested last Friday on charges that she accepted bribes from jailed drug lords, fears for her safety, noting that some inmates were killed inside their prison cell.

Duterte believes that the senator's fear are unfounded.

"She is 100-percent safe there," the president said in a chance interview in Malacañang.

"I think people are interested not to see her dead but to see her in prison for what she did," he added.

Asked what his message is to De Lima, Duterte replied: "Well, she can always pray that the truth will come out eventually if there is another truth."

"Ako naman di naman mahilig mang ano ng kapwa tao. Yung nasa akin, pinapatay ko, criminal talaga namang dapat patayin yan. (I am not fond of persecuting people. I just want to kill criminals). How can we move in this country kung lahat bangag sa droga (if everyone is high on drugs)?" he added.

"Miski ganito lang ako (Even if I'm just like this), I love my country and I would really destroy you (drug lords)."

Duterte declined to comment about claims that there was insufficient evidence against the senator.

"I think the case has been filed, a warrant has been issued and it is subjudice. I would not want to violate the standard operating procedure of court. You're not supposed to be giving your opinion while the case is pending," he said.

Duterte said he does not know if another prominent personality would be arrested over illegal drugs.

"Honestly, I have not called (Justice Secretary Vitaliano) Aguirre once. That's the truth. I don't interfere with their jobs," the president said.

Jee Ick-joo, a Korean businessman earlier accused of being involved in the drug trade, was found to have died inside Camp Crame in October last year allegedly in the hands of police officers who abducted him.