De Lima to Pimentel: Speak in behalf of Senate, not Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima on Tuesday called out Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III following his comments on the recommendations of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

 

Pimentel earlier claimed that the IPU does not understand the Philippine Constitution by recommending to release De Lima from detention.

 

The IPU had adopted a resolution reiterating its call to the Philippine government for De Lima's immediate release from continued pre-trial detention.

 

"The supporters of President Duterte, including Senator Koko Pimentel, should stop avoiding the issue about my continued unjust detention by invoking legalisms and technicalities in relation to the recommendation of the IPU," De Lima said in a statement.

 

De Lima added that Pimentel should "start speaking on behalf of the Senate and his colleagues and not in behalf of Duterte."

 

The international parliamentarians tasked the Senate leadership to ensure that De Lima will be allowed to participate in the deliberations to fulfill her duty as a senator.

 

De Lima expressed her gratitude to the governing council of the IPU for expressing concern about her continued detention and for putting to task the Senate leadership to allow her to fulfill her duties.

 

The detained senator is hoping that the IPU's resolution would serve as a wake-up call for her colleagues in the Senate and to Duterte's supporters who have been "turning a blind eye" on the injustices she is experiencing.

 

"The IPU is merely appealing to the sense of fairness and justice of the court to get an unbiased view of the trumped-up cases of illegal drug trade filed against me," De Lima said.

 

Pimentel insisted that the IPU would be insulting the Philippines if they were to insist that the country observe their rules.

 

"Remember that she is facing drug charges. Keep the Senate out of the drug or corruption cases of its current or former members," Pimentel said.

 

De Lima has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame for more than a year over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

 

In October 2017, the IPU released a report seeking De Lima's release from detention.

 

The international parliamentarians group reported that the "steps taken against [De Lima] came in response to her vocal opposition to President Duterte's war on drugs, including her denunciation of her alleged responsibility for the extrajudicial killings, and that there is no evidence to justify criminal cases against her."