De Lima given until 10 a.m. Friday before cops arrest her

Senator Leila De Lima has been given until 10 a.m. on Friday to stay at the Senate before she is arrested by members of the Philippine National Police, Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia said on radio dzBB.

"Umaga... before 10 o'clock," Balajadia said when asked at what time the warrant of arrest would be served on the senator.

Balajadia said a member of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III's staff coordinated with the arresting team from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to relay an agreement reached with Interior Secretary Mike Sueno.

The agreement was that De Lima would be served her warrant on Friday.

De Lima late Thursday night said she plans to spend the evening at her office in the Senate before she surrenders on Friday morning.

She addressed reporters after evading arrest at her home hours after a Muntinlupa court issued a warrant in connection with a drug trafficking case against her

"What is the difference between tonight and tomorrow morning?" she said, describing it as "unusual" and "unjust."

"Hindi naman ako tatakas. Ready naman akong arestuhin."

De Lima said she didn't want to be arrested in front of her family. She added she felt "less safe" if she were arrested at night.

"I'll just stay here sa Senado and wait for the sun to rise," she said.

De Lima adverted to the agreement between Pimentel and Sueno for her to be arrested on Friday.

But she said Philippine National Police Chief Dir. Gen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa ordered her arrest anyway, insinuating that someone higher was involved in the decision.

"The fact that si Gen. Dela Rosa mismo ang nagdesisyon," she said. "May nag-overrule na mas mataas."

Pimentel earlier indicated that De Lima could not be arrested without coordination between Senate security and the police.

"Bawal na arestuhin sa premises ng Senado, na basta basta lang na walang coordination," Pimentel said, saying that the lawmaker's safety was also their concern.

"'Di pwedeng pasukin lang ng pulis diyan," he added.

Arrest attempt

De Lima addressed reporters at the Senate moments after a team sent by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group showed up at her home to arrest her.

The convoy of police officers arrived at De Lima's subdivision in Paranque a few minutes before 10 p.m.

The police arrived after three sport utility vehicles that was part of De Lima's convoy left the subdivision.

In a news conference earlier in the evening, De Lima expressed hope to spend one last night with her family at home.

"Wala po akong balak magtago dahil haharapin ko ang mga kaso na 'yan... Ninanais ko muna po na umuwi muna para makapiling ko muna po... ang aking pamilya at para kunin ko na po ang mga dadalhin kong gamit sa kulungan," De Lima said.

"Bukas, dito ko po sa Senado hihintayin ang arresting team. Hihintayin ko po sila. Kusa po akong susuko sa kanila," she added.

But the CIDG insisted that it was going to arrest De Lima as soon as it received a copy of the warrant.

Back at the Senate, De Lima lamented not being able to see her family during her quick trip home. —NB, GMA News