Pacquiao on De Lima's possible arrest: We have laws; she should be held liable

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday sympathized with Senator Leila de Lima who is facing several complaints, but added she should be held liable for her faults.

"May batas nga tayo na kung ikaw ay nagkasala, kailangan mong panagutan ang mga kasalanan mo," the senator said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Sabi nga ng Bible, everyone should submit to their governing authorities," he added.

A resolution is expected to be released "soon" by the Department of Justice on the complaints filed against de Lima in connection with the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison.

The said findings will come from a five-man panel, led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong, which was tasked to look into the complaints over offenses that fall under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165).

The complaints were filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, former NBI deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, and high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian.

On Monday, De Lima said she is preparing for a worst-case scenario with the expected release of the DOJ resolution this week.

“I have been preparing for the worst-case scenario kasi katuparan lang 'yan ng matagal nang inuutos ng Pangulo,” De Lima told reporters in an interview.

“Ilang beses na niyang sinasabi na he (President Rodrigo Duterte) wants me locked up in jail to suffer the fate of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. That is his words, not mine,” the senator added.

She said she has already packed her bags and is ready.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon meanwhile on Monday said the Senate cannot do anything to stop the serving of an arrest warrant on de Lima—if and when that happens—as the offense faced by the neophyte senator is not covered by the immunity granted to members of Congress. —Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/KG, GMA News