The past situation of Leila De Lima is being compared to what Bato Dela Rosa is going through right now
House Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima has dismissed the comparison between her and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes’ absence from the Senate session to Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s.
Dela Rosa’s absence is in connection with the reported warrant of arrest that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to release against him. This was in line with the alleged crime against humanity that he committed during the controversial war on drugs of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
It has been months since Dela Rosa’s last appearance in a Senate session. Just recently, Sen. Win Gatchalian stressed that Dela Rosa should go back to work. In a statement, Senate President Tito Sotto said that in Dela Rosa’s absence, his office continues to work.
In a recent statement, Congresswoman Leila de Lima reacted to being compared to Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s situation, based on the article in Abante News.
“Our non-attendance in Senate sessions during our incumbency was involuntary. I could not be physically present in the Senate because I was in detention to face the fabricated charges filed against me then by the Duterte administration. On the other hand, Sen. Bato is running away from possible arrest by the ICC,” the female lawmaker said.
De Lima was jailed after being charged with three cases related to the sale of illegal drugs. The Muntinlupa City courts dismissed all three cases.
“Kahit nakakulong ako noon at kahit mahirap dahil wala akong kahit anumang gadget, nagtatrabaho po ako bilang Senador sa pagpa-file ko ng maraming bills na ilan sa kanila ay naging batas,” she said.
She also said that she even asked if she could participate in online sessions and Senate hearings during the pandemic because this was already being done, but she was not allowed by the majority.
“These matters of productivity in legislative output and the constant eagerness to join plenary sessions and committee hearings despite my unjust detention are clear evidence of work and intent to work,” De Lima said.
She also stressed that they should not be used as an excuse for not implementing the necessary disciplinary action that was supposed to be done in Dela Rosa’s case.