Harry Roque gives Leila de Lima 4th ethics suit

Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque Jr. on Thursday filed an ethics complaint against Senator Leila de Lima for allegedly conspiring to have him ousted from his seat in the House of Representatives.

Roque’s complaint before the Senate ethics committee is the fourth filed against De Lima.

In an interview with reporters, Roque accused De Lima of conspiring with Rep. Ron Salo, also a representative of party-list Kabayan, to have him removed from the House.

“Nadiskubre namin ang relasyon ng salot sa ‘king buhay at ni Senator Leila de Lima sa pamamagitan ng isang organisasyon,” Roque said, referring to the BuCor Love Foundation, Inc., headed by Salo.

“Ito ang umaangkin sa recording studio na inamin ni Colangco at dito nangyari na tumanggap si De Lima sa Muntinlupa,” Roque added.

Herbert Colanggo (Colangco), an inmate inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, earlier testified against De Lima over her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Colanggo is also a singer and has recorded a music album while serving time inside prison.

Roque said De Lima and Salo conspired to silence him in questioning the two’s involvement in the drug trade.

But in a statement, De Lima dismissed Roque's allegation.

“I don't know where Mr. Roque is coming from. I'm sorry to hear that he has been expelled from his party. Maybe if he served his party better rather than wasting his time on baseless and inane attacks against me, he wouldn’t have lost his constituents,” De Lima said. 

De Lima said Roque is only seeking attention from the media by launching attacks against her. 

“My advice to him is to focus on working on meaningful legislation rather than politicking. He won't find salvation by trying to score cheap brownie points from the President by attacking me,” the senator said.

The Kabayan party-list decided last month to remove Roque as its member and representative in Congress over “several complaints” filed against Roque’s behavior and statements.

Roque has a pending petition before the Commission on Elections asking the poll body to overturn the decision of Kabayan.

Roque also questioned De Lima’s attempt to hide her relationship with her former bodyguard driver, Ronnie Dayan.

It was only in November last year that De Lima admitted her past relationship with Dayan, citing “frailties of a woman.”

“Ito ay para itago yung katotohan na naging bagman si Ronnie Dayan dahil sa kanyang domestic relationship. Hindi naman gagawin ni Ronnie Dayan yung pangongolekta ng pera at pangangalakal ng pera kung hindi sa relationship nila,” Roque said.

Dayan testified before a congressional inquiry that he received drug payoffs on behalf of De Lima. —NB/RSJ, GMA News