De Lima on 'fake news' of her suicide try: If I die in prison, Duterte had me killed

Sen. Leila de Lima on Saturday said that the fake news about her supposed suicide attempt inside a detention facility in Camp Crame could be part of a campaign to "condition the minds" of the people of her possible death while in detention.

"These fake 'alternative fact' news are making the rounds and being encouraged by Duterte's lapdogs, such as Speaker [Pantaleon] Alvarez, in order to condition the minds of the people that the worst can happen to me while in detention at the PNP Custodial Center, without any fault of the Duterte regime because I supposedly already lost my mind after my arrest," De Lima said in a statement sent to the media by her office.

De Lima was referring to Alvarez's earlier statement in a social media report that she should have been brought to a mental facility instead of the PNP Custodial Center.

The senator was arrested last week on drug charges filed by the Department of Justice before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court for her supposed involvement in the alleged drug trade inside the New  Bilibid Prison.

Citing the alleged order of Duterte to assassinate journalist Jun Pala in Davao City, De Lima said she "definitely do[es] not feel secure and safe inside 'Duterte's prisons.'"

"If I die inside Duterte’s prisons it is not because I committed suicide, but it is because the President has finally ordered me killed. In the unfortunate event that I die in prison, you all know who my murderer is," she added.

GMA News Online is seeking reactions from Malacañang and PNP spokesman Dionardo Carlos.

Several "fake" news sites posted articles about the alleged suicide attempt of De Lima inside her detention cell at the PNP Custodial Center.

The news sites claimed that the senator was briefly hospitalized at the PNP General Hospital, also inside Camp Crame.

"Wala po akong sakit, at buo ang aking pag-iisip. Kaya po walang dahilan na ako ay mamatay sa sakit o magpatiwakal dahil sa lungkot," De Lima said. —ALG, GMA News