Former senator Leila De Lima emotionally recalled her unjust imprisonment, while former president Rodrigo Duterte sat beside her, during the 11th hearing of the House Quad Committee on Wednesday.
Duterte was questioned about a statement issued during his administration, which labeled De Lima, also a former Justice secretary, the “mother of all drug lords.”
“Naniniwala po ba kayo that si secretary De Lima ang mother of all drug lords?” Sta. Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez asked Duterte.
“Who said it, sir?” Duterte responded.
“According sa report, mga tao po natin sa Malacañang. Si director Roel Lasala and Reynaldo Esmeralda, former NBI officer-in-charge ng Department of Justice,” the congressman replied.
“I would like to congratulate them for making the statement,” Duterte quipped.
De Lima was then asked whether she agreed with Duterte’s characterization of her.
“Absolutely false! That is a fictitious, bogus allegation made against me, and then they filed cases against me,” De Lima said.
Eight years ago, De Lima faced multiple charges for allegedly being involved in illegal drug trafficking. After spending nearly seven years in detention, she was acquitted of all charges.
Emotionally, De Lima described her imprisonment as part of a propaganda effort to distract the public from the real issue—the extrajudicial killings that marked Duterte’s war on drugs.
“Kasama lang po yan sa naging propaganda nila. Kasama lang ho yan para sa meron silang figure, a prominent figure, at si senator De Lima po yan nuong 2016,” she said.
“Kinulong po ako ng almost 7 years na hindi na po nila mababalikan dahil sa pagkagalit nuong pinaka-mastermind nung pag-persecute sa akin na inimplement ng kaniyang Secretary of Justice,” she added.
De Lima has consistently been outspoken in her opposition to Duterte’s administration, both before and during her incarceration. She has also participated in hearings as a resource speaker, sharing her insights on the Davao Death Squad and presenting “evidence” related to the killings.