Embattled Sen. Leila M. de Lima said yesterday that she is no longer surprised at President Duterte’s latest tirades against her, saying these have been part of his misogynist and chauvinistic attitude.
“Duterte’s latest verbal abuse against me is simply characteristic of his being a misogynist and chauvinist,” De Lima said in a text message.
“That’s all it is and there is no need to dignify it with any further reply. It is regrettable that he has become so low. God help our country,” she added.
But in a radio interview, De Lima said she is touched by Secretary Martin Andanar’s call for Duterte’s followers to stop harassing and threatening her through text messages.
“Nagagalak ako na may ganung panawagan si Andanar. Talaga namang hindi tama, hindi makata-rungan mga ganyan. Bakit kailangan pa akong murahin, bantaan, wala naman akong ginagawang masama. Ang ginagawa lang naman ngayon ay matinding character assassination at panggigipit. Panggigipit sa akin saka paninira sa akin ang nangyayari,” she said in an interview over radio DZBB.
“Nakakalungkot na nadadagdagan pa ng mga ganyan sa kung sino man ang may kagagawan nyan na sa tingin ko ito’y mga trolls. Matagal na nila akong ginaganyan sa social media. Nung nalaman ’yung cellphone number ko dun naman sila nagpapadala nung mga hindi talaga magagandang pananalita na talagang nakakasakit po, masyado po akong nasasaktan sa mga taktika nila,” she pointed out.
De Lima believes Duterte really wants her out of the Senate, noting that the “entire machinery” of the Executive department is being used to harass her. “Napaka-lopsided (ng laban). Imagine, the entire machinery of the Executive department tapos nalulungkot ako na mismo sa Kongreso, parang tumutulong sila sa panggigipit sa akin,” De Lima said.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II yesterday doubted the claim of De Lima that convicted criminal and drug lord Jaybee Sebastian is a government asset. “Iyan ang katawa-tawa. Hindi na alam ni Sen. De Lima ang magandang depensa,” Aguirre told reporters.
“Paano ako maniniwala asset si Jaybee Sebatian? Asset ba isang tao na pinapayagan mo manguna sa drug trade sa Muntinlupa at iyan naman alam natin sa mga testigo na hinarap natin,” Aguirre said.
(Hannah L. Torregoza with reports from Jeffrey G. Damicog)