Teary-eyed De Lima vows to surrender on Friday

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — Sen. Leila De Lima vowed on Thursday night that she would surrender on Friday morning after a Muntinlupa court ordered her arrest.

At a televised press briefing at the Senate, a visibly emotional De Lima declared that she would face cases against her, dousing fears that she would try to escape.

De Lima said that she would go home tonight to be with her family and prepare the things that she would bring to prison.

"Ninanais ko muna po na umuwi muna para makapiling ko muna po- ang aking pamilya" De Lima said, stopping in midsentence to compose herself and contain her welling emotions.

De Lima continued: "Para kunin ko na po yung mga dadalhin kong gamit sa kulungan."

She assured the public that she would return to the Senate the following morning to face her arresting team.

"Katulad po ng nasabi ko dati wala po akong balak takasan yang mga kaso ko. Wala po akong balak magtago dahil haharapin ko po ang mga kaso na yan," De Lima said.

The senator, who flanked by fellow Liberal Party Sens. Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, said she would voluntarily present herself to arresting officers.

An arrest warrant by issued by Judge Juanita Guerrero of Branch 204 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa on Thursday afternoon after she found probable cause in the case that was raffled off to her court.

Ordered arrested were the senator, former Bureau of Corrections officer in charge Rafael Ragos and her former driver and lover Ronnie Dayan.

The Liberal Party condemned the "deplorable haste" with which the judge issued the arrest order, questioning if she was even able to read the "thick motion to quash" filed by De Lima's lawyers.

Alex Padilla, a lawyer for De Lima, also questioned the integrity of the court, saying that it had "practically thrown away their independence."

She also asked for prayers for her safety and security.

"Humihingi lang po ako na inyong dasal na sana maging safe and secure ako saan man nila ako dalhin, saan man nila ako ikukulong," she said.

De Lima also questioned the circumstances under which the arrest order was issued considering that a hearing was set for their camp's motion to quash.

She added that the prosecution panel even asked that the hearing be moved to the first week of March.

She said that it was already up to her lawyers to file the remedies against her "questionable" arrest order.

In the end, De Lima promised to continue fighting on.

"Tuloy po ang laban ni Leila De Lima," she declared.