STATEMENT OF SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA ON HER ADMISSION OF HER PAST RELATIONSHIP WITH FORMER DRIVER/BODYGUARD

"I have already said my piece and I would not want to add anything more other than what I have repeatedly said in the past interviews. I do hope that you will respect my right to privacy over my personal life and not impute any more malice.

"But for the sake of my supporters who may now have questions in their mind about me, let me get this straight again.

"Like many of us, including my detractors, some decisions and relationships in our past have not been the best and the wisest. I have learned from these experiences and resolved to use my pain to focus on the good I can do.

"However, I have never allowed my personal life affect my work in public service. My track record as a public official, first as Commission on Human Rights Chair and next as Secretary of Justice, speaks for itself. My record and my reputation have been untarnished until now because of all these unjust, unfair and false allegations and fabricated lies against my alleged involvement in the drug trade. I have made my peace with my past and my family. I don't know if my primary attacker can say the same.

"My mission right now is to stop the extrajudicial killings and summary executions happening in our country, as well as to address other social issues. I am even more determined in pursuing this goal despite the danger to my life and reputation."