Ex-NBI officials ‘feel vindicated’ after De Lima arrest 

Two sacked National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy directors, who were accused of tipping off pork barrel scam suspect Janet Lim Napoles, said on Friday that they feel vindicated after the arrest of Senator Leila de Lima.

It was de Lima, the former Justice secretary, who recommended the dismissal of Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala in 2014.

"We feel vindicated already with this development," Esmeralda said on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras".

"Kapag sumawsaw ka sa droga, mananagot ka sa batas," Lasala added.

Esmeralda and Lasala has denied the allegations against them.

In October last year, the former NBI officials filed complaints against de Lima for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Act (Republic Act 9165), claiming that the lawmaker was the "mother of all drug lords."

De Lima turned herself in to authorities Friday morning after staying the night at the Senate. She was ordered arrested Thursday over her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News