Saturday, 27 August 2016

Speaker tells De Lima: Face House probe to prove your innocence

Posted by sizzledfeed on 23:26

Senator Leila de Lima should submit herself to the impending congressional probe on the alleged illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and prove President Rodrigo Duterte wrong, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said.

“'Yung ganyang mga panawagan na wala kang kinalaman at lahat, 'yan ay mapapatunayan lamang if you subject yourself to investigation," Alvarez, a close ally of Duterte, said in an interview in Tunga, Leyte on Saturday.

Alvarez is one of the authors of House Resolution No. 105, which seeks an investigation into how drug syndicates managed to operate and flourish inside the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa during De Lima's watch as Justice Secretary.

At her birthday celebration with members of the media last week, De Lima said she only has two wishes, one being for Duterte to stop accusing her of involvement in illegal drugs operations.

“Hindi ba tila baga ang 'war against drugs,' napupunta na sa 'war versus De Lima?'” the senator said.

The President has accused the senator of having an affair with her former driver-bodyguard Ronnie Dayan, who the chief executive said collected drug money from drug lords locked up in Bilibid.

Alvarez said the House committee on justice will invite DOJ officials and witnesses to testify about the alleged drug trade inside the NBP.

He reiterated that the House cannot force De Lima to attend the inquiry, citing inter-parliamentary courtesy extended to members of both houses of Congress.

“Hindi natin siya pipilitin doon. Ngunit kung may mga bagay doon na kailangan ay siya ay magsalita para maliwanagan, ay kung sa akin siguro ay mas mainam na siguro na pumunta ka para magpaliwanag,” Alvarez said.

“Totoo ba ito o hindi? Halimbawa, mamaya sabi niya wala siyang kaugnayan doon sa kanyang driver. E, kung merong video na lumabas doon? Sinong magpapatunay noon na hindi nga totoo iyon, o di ba? Di syempre ikaw,” he added.

The said probe has yet to be scheduled. The resolution is still pending with the committee on rules. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/LBG, GMA News

Credit:http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/579223/news/nation/speaker-tells-de-lima-face-house-probe-to-prove-your-innocence