Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Sen. Leila de Lima pushed back against comparisons to denied requests for her virtual participation in Senate sessions while she was detained, in light of a sudden push to allow remote participation amid pending cases against a number of lawmakers.
“Those were never approved. Kahit nga may COVID-19 pandemic noon kung kailan na-amend na ang rules to allow teleconferencing, di pa rin ako pinayagan,” De Lima, who is now a representative for Mamamayang Liberal party-list, posted on X.
“Malinaw yan kaya tigil-tigilan nila ang pagkukumpara,” she added.
[Translation: Those were never approved. Even though there was a pandemic when rules were amended to allow teleconferencing, I was not allowed to participate…that is clear so stop comparing.]
De Lima said there was no railroading or shortcuts to amend the Senate rules during pandemic, a time of national emergency.
The lawmaker was detained for over six years for drug-related charges – all of which were dismissed by the court.
De Lima said it is convenient for people to use her case “whenever it serves their purpose or agenda.”
“Hindi ako nagpakanlong sa Senado, hindi ako nagdulot ng gulo, hindi ako tumakas, at lalong hindi ko inilagay sa peligro ang buhay ng maraming tao,” she said.
“Mahiya at kilabutan naman ang mga nagsasabing magkapareho lang ang pinagdaanan ko sa sinuman na gusto nilang pagbigyan ngayon,” the lawmaker added.
[Translation: I did not seek refuge in the Senate, I did not cause chaos, I did not flee, and I certainly did not put many people’s lives in danger…Those who are saying that what I went through is the same as what someone they now want to accommodate is going through should be ashamed and horrified.]
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, who once lobbied for De Lima’s participation, also rejected the comparison, saying the request was made during the pandemic.
He added that the situation is different for fugitive Senator Bato dela Rosa – who has gone into hiding amid the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity of murder in relation to the Duterte’s administration’s bloody drug war.
“Hindi dapat kinukunsinti ang lawbreaker…Huwag magpaloko sa mga nagkukumpara ng langka sa durian,” Pangilinan said.
[Translation: Lawbreakers should not be tolerated…Don’t be fooled by false comparisons.]
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, Dela Rosa’s colleague in the majority bloc, introduced the motion to add justifiable reasons to allow a senator’s online participation in sessions.
Tensions escalated at the plenary session on Tuesday, May 26, when some senators questioned the majority’s urgency to tackle the proposal, resulting in a walkout of the minority bloc.
The ombudsman earlier announced that cases against a number of majority senators for alleged flood control corruption may be out soon.
