Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima on Thursday dismissed comparisons between her previous detention and the current push to allow senators to participate remotely in Senate proceedings.
The former Justice secretary criticized attempts to use her experience as justification for proposed amendments to Senate rules amid ongoing debates linked to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“How convenient it is for some people to use me or what I went through as an example whenever it serves their purpose or agenda. Kahit fake news, kahit ibang-iba ang totoong nangyari at naging sitwasyon ko noon, ipipilit pa rin para lang umakma sa naratibo nila,” De Lima said.
De Lima rejected claims that she barricaded herself inside the Senate during her arrest in 2017, stressing that she peacefully surrendered to authorities and did not endanger anyone.
“Hindi ako nagpakanlong sa Senado, hindi ako nagdulot ng gulo, hindi ako tumakas, at lalong hindi ko inilagay sa peligro ang buhay ng maraming tao,” she said.
She also recalled that several senators during her detention had filed resolutions seeking to allow her participation in Senate hearings and plenary sessions through teleconferencing.
“Now, they cite the resolutions filed by my fellow senators during my unjust incarceration to allow me to participate in committee hearings and plenary deliberations via teleconferencing,” she said.
However, De Lima emphasized that the proposals were never approved, even during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Senate adopted limited remote participation measures.
“More importantly, no railroading or shortcuts to amend the Senate rules were resorted to in order to accommodate that request, which, I repeat, was never granted. Malinaw yan kaya tigil-tigilan nila ang pagkukumpara,” she said.
“Mahiya at kilabutan naman ang mga nagsasabing magkapareho lang ang pinagdaanan ko sa sinuman na gusto nilang pagbigyan ngayon,” De Lima added.
The Senate majority bloc has been pushing for changes to chamber rules that would permit lawmakers to attend proceedings virtually, a move that has sparked tensions within the Senate ahead of Duterte’s impeachment trial.