(Eagle News)– Senator Leila de Lima stressed on Sunday (September 18) that she will not attend the hearing of House of Representatives on the alleged narcotics trade inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“With or without an invitation, I will not attend that hearing. I will not even send any representative, lawyer or even an observer,” De Lima said.
“It is a sham inquiry, with no objective other than to demolish or destroy me, upon orders of the President,” she added.
Earlier, De Lima cited her rights to ‘interparliamentary courtesy’ as a support to her refusal to attend the hearing.
Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, a notable ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, filed a resolution following the President’s allegation that De Lima was involved in the illegal drug trade in the NBP during her tenure as justice secretary.
Duterte said that De Lima was the highest government official involved in the drug proliferation in NBP, based on the drug matrix he released.