Press Release
September 11, 2019

De Lima refutes Duterte's claims about her continued influence over Bilibid inmates as 'insanity in its most diabolical form'

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has belied as "insanity in its most diabolical form" Mr. Duterte's oft-repeated reason behind his decision to transfer convict-witnesses in the trumped-up drug charges against her to the Marines barracks in Taguig City.

De Lima said Duterte's latest statement was meant to deceive the public into believing that she still has the power to direct her alleged "allies" inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to harm the convicted inmates who testified against her.

"In Duterte's twisted mind, I'm that powerful! So powerful that I can actually command my alleged NBP 'allies' to harm or assassinate their fellow inmates! This is insanity in its most diabolical form!" she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 590.

In his recent speech in Cebu, Mr. Duterte admitted he directed the transfer of the high-profile convict-witnesses to the Marines headquarters in Taguig City to keep them away from De Lima's alleged "allies" who could inflict harm on them.

The lady Senator from Bicol pointed out that Duterte is once again caught lying through his teeth by painting her before the Filipino people as a powerful narco-politician who has a capacity to kill people.

"It should be clear to everyone that this latest presidential inanity is but another move aimed at perpetuating their biggest lie or grossest myth - na ako daw ay sangkot sa ilegal na droga, na ako daw ang 'No. 1 drug lord' o 'leading narco-politican' sa bansa!" she said.

De Lima stressed that the transfer of the convict-witnesses from the NBP to the Marines HQ in Taguig was meant to further control them into pinning her down in the trumped-up drug charges the Duterte administration has filed against her.

"Aminin nyo na lang kasi na ang totoong dahilan sa paglipat nyo sa mga convicts-witnesses na iyan sa Philippine Marines HQ ay ito: For you and your equally evil operators to further control these witnesses in terms of pinning me down in the drug cases against me," she said.

She said the timing of the transfer was suspicious as it happened before they are scheduled to take the witness stand in the cases filed with the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC).

By confining the convict-witnesses within a more secluded place like the Marines headquarters, De Lima said it would be easier for the Duterte government to strike more clandestine deals with them to ensure her conviction.

"You need to give them further special treatment in exchange for falsely testifying against me, if not to further threaten, coerce and pressure them into standing by their grossly fabricated tales about me. In sum, more orchestrated lies!" she said.

"Gusto mo lang talaga akong durugin. Again, Mr. Duterte, enough of this madness!" stressed De Lima, reiterating that the trumped-up drug charges are part of a grand scheme to silence her vocal stand against illegal drugs, extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.

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