De Lima: I'm prepared for 'worst-case' scenario

MANILA, Philippines— Sen. Leila De Lima said that she is prepared for the worst-case scenario in case the Department of Justice releases its resolution on drug trafficking charges against her.

De Lima said that her looming arrest was part of the wishes of President Rodrigo Duterte, who she claimed wants her to suffer the same fate as former President Gloria Arroyo. Arroyo, now free and a deputy speaker at the House of Representatives, was jailed while De Lima was secretary of justice.

"Kasi katuparan lang yan ng utos ng Pangulo. Ilang beses na ho iyan sinasabi na he wants me locked up in jail to suffer the fate of the former president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," De Lima said.

Duterte has accused De Lima as having benefited from the illegal drugs trade inside the national penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison, during her stint as Justice secretary.

De Lima is facing drug-related charges filed with the Department of Justice by the National Bureau of Investigation, non-government group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, former NBI directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala and inmate Jaybee Sebastian.

Sebastian said that he gave P8 million to De Lima who used it to finance her successful senatorial bid last year. De Lima has denied these allegations.