MikeLigalig.com

De Lima ready to defend self before Senate ethics panel

MANILA, Jan. 4 (PNA) -- Sen. Leila de Lima on Wednesday said that she is ready to defend herself before the Senate Committee on Ethics against a complaint filed by leaders of the House of Representatives.

Last December 12, House leaders filed a complaint against De Lima for barring former security aide and alleged drug money bagman Ronnie Dayan from appearing before a House probe into illegal drugs at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The complaint drafted by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was personally brought by Umali to the office of Senate Majority Leader and Ethics Committee Chair Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

"Premises considered, for violating (Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code); the Rules of the Congress, of which she is a sitting member, her Oath of Office as a Senator of the Republic; and her disrespect for a co-equal chamber which she called a kangaroo court, the corresponding disciplinary measures must be imposed to penalize Senator De Lima for her unethical acts, conduct and behavior," the complaints read.

"I will wait for the initial action of the Committee. And I’m prepared to explain myself to my peers," De Lima said, especially those that had insinuations about her involvement in the illegal drug trade.

"That’s what hurts, that your colleagues doubt you or believe lies of others," she added.

De Lima admitted that she doubted the impartiality of the Committee and raised the possibility that some committee members have shown hostility against her.

"…Some of them have shown some hostility against me especially on Matobato hearings," the neophyte senator said, referring to self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato.

She refused to name colleagues who may have been hostile towards her as not to create unnecessary tensions in the Senate.

Asked if she was worried that it would affect their decision on the ethics complaint, De Lima said that she hopes they would consider fairness and objectivity and listen to her explanation or even inhibit.

"It’s difficult if I will easily suspect or perceive bias on their part in handling that complaint because you know, they are intelligent and conscientious people and they would be able to discharge their function as members of the Ethics Committee with utmost fairness and objectivity," De Lima stressed.

"I will be judged by my own peers. So I have to respect them. I have to respect their position in the ethics complaint unless, I see apparent or obvious signs of hostility, and partiality, bias, or prejudice against me in the course of the proceedings before the Ethics Committee," she added.

De Lima, former Justice Secretary, said that if in case there will be prejudice against her, she will avail of the proper course of action.

She also expressed hope that she could focus more on legislative work this year when the Senate resumes plenary sessions on January 16. (PNA)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=84068.0