Three senatorial candidates are calling for the immediate release of Senator Leila de Lima from detention after two key witnesses issued retractions to their claims that she was involved in drug trafficking at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her term as justice secretary.
The calls were issued by senatorial candidates Alex Lacson, Chel Diokno and Risa Hontiveros who were in Negros Occidental with presidential aspirant Leni Robredo on Tuesday, May 3.
The senator has been detained at the Camp Crame Custodial Center since February 2017 and is facing multiple drug cases.
De Lima should be freed immediately, and candidates of dynasties with a history of political vendetta, should no longer be voted into office, Lacson said.
De Lima led the investigation into the alleged extra judicial killings in Davao City when Rodrigo Duterte was mayor there, and when he became president she was jailed, Lacson said.
Her imprisonment is clearly a political vendetta and a great injustice, he added.
Political vendetta is a big blow to democracy because it creates fear designed to silence critics , Lacson said.
Two dynasties have abused their power to suppress the opposition and to remove check and balance in government that is why corruption, killings and violations of human rights have worsened, Lacson said.
“Along with the release of Sen. De Lima, let us on May 9 reject dynasty candidates who have a record of using power as a tool of political repression against their critics. Let’s get rid of them and not allow them to regain power”, Lacson said.
“In the coming elections, let us choose candidates who will not abuse power just to get back at their political enemies, ” he added.
Hontiveros said De Lima should be freed at the soonest possible time to correct the injustice committed against her.
“I really believe she should not have been arrested and jailed, “ Hontiveros said, pointing out that witnesses have come forward to deny their accusations against the former justice secretary.
Diokno said all those behind the frame up of De Lima should be investigated and made to answer for what they did.
More teeth should also be put into the law against tampering with witnesses’ testimonies, Diokno said.*