‘Another blatant lie,’ De Lima says as Duterte threatens DAP charges

Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday downplayed President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat that she will soon face charges related to the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of the Aquino administration.

In a statement, De Lima said Duterte’s accusation that she is involved in an alleged DAP anomaly is another “lie” from the President.

“The latest lie is about my alleged involvement in an alleged DAP anomaly, along with Sen. [Antonio] Trillanes. Wow! What kind of lies are Duterte and his evil lieutenants concocting this time?” De Lima said.

De Lima said Duterte has previously lied about her links to the Bilibid drug trade, her supposed sex video, and about a US intel report supposedly proving her involvement in illegal drugs, “a claim so incredulous that it might as well just originated from the planet Mars.” 

“These are all blatant lies, blurted out by Duterte himself, mostly in public events; lies parroted by his obnoxious underlings and gleefully swallowed, and at times applauded by his fanatical throngs,” De Lima said.

“And I need not remind about Duterte’s other ignominious remarks, almost unprintable words, attacking my womanhood, which shows the vileness or baseness of the man’s character. Malinaw po – Hindi lang mamamatay tao ang pangulong ito, kundi ubod po ng sinungaling. A big, pathological liar! A real sicko,” she added.

Duterte said in a PTV-4 interview on Tuesday night that Trillanes would face a DAP-related case while he mentioned the case that would be filed against De Lima in a speech in Malacañang.

“Sauce for the gander, sauce for the goose. Walang yellow pa na naano ngayon except De Lima, but she has a case coming up also sa DAP. I could not believe really... Grabe itong babaeng ito. Talagang kapal sa kapal,” Duterte said.

He did not provide specifics.

Duterte made the pronouncement when he awarded outstanding government workers and groups in Malacañang and slammed those who were yet to prosecute the “yellows” in government.  Yellow is the color of the opposition, Liberal Party.

Certain provisions of the controversial DAP were struck down as unconstitutional in 2014 by the Supreme Court. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ, GMA News