Aguirre resignation should serve as lesson to Duterte henchmen —De Lima

Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre's resignation seemed to have been taken right out of Mafia movie with a bad script and bad actors, according to Senator Leila de Lima.

And in a statement on Friday, the lawmaker warned other Duterte allies, especially his "henchmen," that they could also suffer the same fate.

"Parang eksena lang sa Mafia movie na pangit ang script, gasgas ang istorya at bulok ang acting. Pinaliligpit ng pinuno ng sindikato ang  galamay na banta o pabigat na sa kanya o sa organisasyon," she said.

"Sana ang nangyari kay Aguirre ay maging babala at leksyon sa lahat ng mga alipores, kasabwat at mga tau-tauhan ni Duterte – nasa Kongreso, Ehekutibo, at mga Hukuman man sila – ukol sa bagsik at lupit ng kanilang pinapanginoon," De Lima added.

The senator is currently detained at Camp Crame over drug charges, which she has repeatedly insisted were trumped up and part of the government's political persecution.

The senator wondered want went wrong with the Duterte administration's "script."

"Sa sine, madalas na ang galamay ay pumalpak sa huling misyon, umabuso, o kaya’y tuluyan nang nawalan ng silbi kay boss," she said.

"Ano kaya ang nangyari kay Aguirre? Sumabit sa mga huling iniutos? Nag “sariling sikap” at lumaki na ang ulo? Pinagsawaan na lang basta ni Duterte? O all of the above?" she added.

De Lima said the public should not be deceived into thinking Duterte's acceptance of Aguirre's resignation was good-intentioned.

"Wag na wag tayong malilinlang na ang pagtanggal kay Aguirre ay bunsod ng anumang dalisay na pakay ni Duterte para sa bansa at para sa Kagawaran ng Katarungan," she said.

De Lima said the government's "innumerable monstrosities, lies, and deceptions" will never be buried and erased by finger-pointing and using sacrifical lambs and scapegoats.

"Sa dulo: lalabas pa rin ang katotohanan at mananaig ang katarungan. Ito ang kinatatakutan ni Duterte at ng kanyang sindikato.," De Lima said.

"Higit pa sa maaaring gawin sa kanila [mga alipores] ni Duterte ay dapat isipin nila at katakutan ang paghuhusga ng kasaysayan at paghahatol ng taumbayan sa huli, kung saan laging magwawagi ang totoo, tama at makatwiran," she added.

Aguirre was replaced by Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra. — MDM, GMA News