Sen. Risa Hontiveros has rallied behind the plan of former Senator Leila de Lima, who was jailed for seven years due to trumped-up drug charges, to file counter charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte and others.
“I really think she should consider that, • said Hontiveros.
“I know that this is one- almost naturally or automatically to become her life’s mission- to be given justice.” noted Hontiveros who also belongs to the opposition.
She said De Lima is only one of the victims of the Duterte administration bloody war on illegal drugs.
Being the most popular victim of the Duterte drug war, De Lima has also been vocal in seeking justice for the other victims.
“She has always been reminding justice for those widowed or those who lost their loved ones in Duterte’s
extra judicial killings,” stressed Hontiveros.
De Lima said her legal team will file charges against Duterte and the latter’s justice secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre II, for the fabricated drug charges which led to her detention.
“I am doing this for justice and vindication, not to seek revenge. It is not a matter of vengefulness. It is my right to seek justice for the wrong they committed against me,” pointed out De Lima who also served as justice secretary.
“They smeared my reputation. I was detained and deprived of my liberty for almost seven years,” also said De Lima. adding that she was not able to fully perform her mandate as senator.
“It is clear that the charges were upon Duterte’s orders while Aguirre was his chief enforcer to persecute me,” she emphasized.
Furthermore, De Lima related that Duterte has an axe to grind against her.
She was then the secretary of the Commission on Human Rights she ordered spate of killings by the alleged Davao Death Squad when the former President was Davao City Mayor.
After assuming the president, Duterte publicly declared that she would destroy a woman who later turned out as De Lima.
