MANILA — Detained Senator Leila de Lima is detained in Camp Crame for serious drug charges and not because of her political beliefs, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Monday.
Roque made this comment following Aquino’s call to the public to support De Lima during the launch of her electronic book “Dispatches from Crame”.
De Lima is one of the staunchest critics of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
“We take note of the opinion of former President Benigno Aquino III on Senator Leila de Lima. With all due respect to the former President, Senator Leila de Lima is not fighting for her principle and was not detained because of her political beliefs,” Roque said in a press statement.
“The lady Senator was arrested and incarcerated because of serious drug charges where she was accused of allowing the illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the National Bilibid Prison when she was the DOJ Secretary,” he added.
De Lima has been detained in Camp Crame for over a year now over drug trafficking charges.
Roque earlier expressed hope that De Lima Lima would remain healthy enough to live a long life after she was given a one-day medical furlough to have a CT scan of the liver at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City early this month.
De Lima said her physician at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital advised her to undergo further examination after finding an impression of a “liver mass.”
Roque said despite De Lima being one of the President’s staunchest critics, the President himself did not wish De Lima or anyone ill.
“I don’t think the President wishes anyone ill as far as health issues are concerned. As I said, we want her to enjoy a long life wherever but we want her to have a long life,” Roque said.
De Lima, however, said there was “nothing to worry about” her health. (PNA)
