De Lima says some pain on chest where knife was pressed, prays for cop’s recovery

Detained former senator Leila de Lima said she is now safe except for some pain and distress, following what she described as a near-death experience when she was taken hostage by an inmate on Sunday.

In a statement released Sunday afternoon, de Lima said she is experiencing lingering pain where a knife had been pressed to her chest during the incident.

“After being told by the hostage-taker that since his two other companions were already dead, he’s certain he would also be killed and he might just as well also kill me, I consider what happened to me as a near-death experience,” she said. “While I am still trying to recover psychologically and emotionally from this harrowing experience, I am sure of one thing that I learned from it. Being so near death has only made me value life even more,” she said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) General Rodolgfo Azurin Jr. earlier on Sunday said de Lima was taken hostage by a person under police custody (PUPC), who was trying to escape.

Identified as Feliciano Sulayao Jr., the inmate was said to be trying to escape along with Arnel Cabintoy and Idang Susukan. He then ran towards de Lima’s custodial cell and took her hostage.

The PUPCs were reported to have been killed, after a police officer—identified as Police Corporal Roger Agustin—was stabbed while trying to contain the incident.

“Please pray also for the injured police officer who, like me, was the other but more unfortunate victim of this incident,” de Lima said.

“While I have survived with only a knife mark and some considerable distress, he is still fighting for his life. Let us all pray for his quick recovery,” she added.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the PUPCs demanded a helicopter, a Hummer, and other items in their bid to escape the prison.

Lawmakers have called for an investigation into the incident.

“I have already endured more than five years of unjust detention inside the PNP Custodial Center. It was therefore farthest from my mind that on top of this ordeal, I also had to survive the knife of a fellow detainee (reportedly an Islamic extremist) who took me hostage in a desperate attempt to make known their grievances to the public,” de Lima said.

The former lawmaker is set to attend the resumption of the hearing on one of the remaining illegal drug charges filed against her on Monday, October 10, 2022.

De Lima was jailed in 2017 on allegations of involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice Secretary. She has denied the accusations.

Key witnesses—including self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafaael Ragos—have since recanted their testimonies against de Lima.

Espinosa recanted his sworn statements during a Senate joint committee, saying that he was “coerced, pressured, intimidated, and seriously threatened” by the police to implicate the senator.

Ragos followed suit and retracted his claim, also saying that he was threatened by then-Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre into making false allegations against her. He also apologized and said she should be cleared of charges.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in May said the retracted statements were “highly suspicious” and “questionable,” and that it is up to the court to decide if the recant could impact his previous testimonies.

Malacañang, under former President Rodrigo Duterte, said the public should let the law run its course, claiming that the case has “nothing to do with her views with the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs or her affiliation to the political opposition.”

Prior to her detainment, de Lima had been vocal against the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs, and said she was prepared to be the first “political prisoner” under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

For his part, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered to PNP to ensure that there will be no repeat of any violence in its facilities after the incident on Sunday.

Marcos in a tweet also said he will speak to de Lima to check her status, and to ask if she wishes to be transferred to another detention center.

Following this morning’s incident at Camp Crame, I will be speaking to Senator De Lima to check on her condition and to ask if she wishes to be transferred to another detention center.

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) October 9, 2022

— BM, GMA News