Press Release
July 31, 2019

De Lima calls sedition complaint a sham like her drug charges

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has branded as "sham" and "a clear case of harassment aimed at decimating the opposition" the complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) after receiving a copy of it last week.

De Lima confirmed she received last July 26 a copy of the formal complaint and the Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoena for the charges of sedition / inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel and obstruction of justice filed by CIDG in connection with the "Bikoy" videos.

"I confirm receipt last Friday of the DOJ Subpoena in relation to the PNP-CIDG complaint for sedition, etc., a.k.a. the 'Bikoy' garbage. Walang kakwenta-kwenta pero malaking perwisyo na naman ito tulad ng mga drug cases ko," she said in her Dispatch from Crame No. 565.

De Lima, the most prominent political prisoner under the Duterte administration, admitted having a dilemma on how to respond to the sham cases which were "aimed at decimating, if not annihilating, what is left of the legitimate and fighting opposition." "Shall I dignify the complaint with the required Counter-Affidavit, or simply throw it to the trashbin where it belongs?" asked De Lima, also a known critic of Duterte and his fake war on drugs that has resulted in the killings of thousands of Filipinos.

The lady Senator from Bicol, however, said she will defer to the advice of her legal team on how to properly approach the cases filed by the CIDG.

Also charged were Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Risa Hontiveros; former Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Bam Aquino; and Otso Diretso senatorial candidates Chel Diokno, Florin Hilbay, Gary Alejano, Romulo Macalintal, Samira Gutoc and Erin Tañada.

De Lima has repeatedly denounced the Duterte administration for weaponizing the law in an effort to silence the opposition from speaking out against his sham campaign against illegal drugs, unmitigated corruption, abuse of power, and subservience to China.

"For those of us who are at the receiving end of all these legal and extra-legal offensives, we will show this government how it is to fight a noble fight, in contrast to their shameless and unscrupulous methods," she said.

De Lima, a former justice secretary, warned Duterte allies behind the harassment and oppression of opposition figures and other critics that they will not remain in power forever and they will ultimately pay for their misdeeds. "Sa lahat ng mga kakuntsaba ni Duterte, katulad na naman ni SOLGEN Calida, sa walang-humpay na panggigipit na ito, tandaan ninyo na hindi habang panahon ay kayo ang nakaluklok sa kapangyarihan," she said.

"Hindi habang panahon ay makakapagtago kayo sa likod ni Duterte, lalo na ngayon na gahibla na lang ang kanyang natitirang lakas," she added.

Recognized as a prisoner of conscience by the human rights community, De Lima has unwaveringly maintained her innocence from all the trumped-up charges fabricated by the Duterte administration using perjured and coerced witnesses.

News Latest News Feed