De Lima sees nothing wrong with Duterte’s naming, shaming of public officials

Senator Leila de Lima said Sunday that she found nothing wrong with President Rodrigo Duterte's "naming and shaming" of public officials allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade.

"I think I know what he is doing. Let him account to that. Let him explain that, yung kanyang punto kung bakit 'yan ang nakita niyang strategy,” De Lima said in an interview on dzBB.

De Lima added that she cannot base her judgment on Duterte's strategy to publicly name public officials being suspected of having involvement in drugs.

“Ilang beses ko na rin nasabi na sa tingin ko yan ang strategy ng ating pangulo at sa tingin ko na naniniwala siya na epektibo ang strategy na yan, yung naming and shaming,” she said.

De Lima, a former secretary of the Department of Justice and chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, noted that Duterte has earned the praise of the public with his shame campaign, which instills fear among public officials.

"Pinapangalanan sila to instill fear, kahihiyan. Hindi ko huhusgahan ang ating pangulo diyan sa strategy niyang 'yan... I think marami ang nag-a-appreciate niyan, bumibilib sa kanya sa strategy na 'yan," De Lima said.

Duterte read out a list of names of incumbent and former public officials allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade early Sunday.

Days after he assumed the presidency, Duterte named five retired and active police officials who allegedly protect drug syndicates. 

Facts

Meanwhile, De Lima cautioned that Duterte's claims should be backed by facts noting that lives and honor of the families of those involved.

"There must be facts, supporting facts, na tunay na nagsasabi na nagtuturo diyan sa mga personalidad na 'yan na involved sila diumano sa droga. Kasi 'pag nasisita ang reputasyon ng isang tao, mas mahirap na bawiin. It becomes irreversible yung kahihiyan sa kanya, at lalo sa kanyang pamilya kung it turns out later na hindi pala totoo," De Lima said.

De Lima said Duterte has all the means to verify any information against the personalities to back up his allegations.

“He was the means to verify and validate facts, validate information. Mayroon siyang intel resources. Mayroon siyang kapasidad, kapangyarihan para i-validate, i-verify muna ang mga impormasyon, derogatory information about these personalities,” she said.

De Lima added that the public just has to trust that the President used all government resources to back his claims in naming the public officials linked to illegal drugs.

“We just have to trust na kapag napangalanan ng Pangulo, somehow may basehan. Yun nga lang dapat maingat ang facts,” she said.

Duterte had said that the names he announced had been verified and validated.

He said more names are undergoing "revalidation." —ALG, GMA News