Bato says CIDG went to De Lima's house to secure her, not arrest her

SILANG, Cavite — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Tuesday the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group went to the house of Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday to secure her and not to arrest her.

Dela Rosa said he did not order De Lima's arrest on Thursday night to honor her request to allow her to spend it with her family.

"Pumayag ako na kaya nga hindi siya inaresto nung gabi na 'yun hanggang umaga.
Baka iniisip niya na yung pagpunta nung CIDG doon sa bahay niya talagang arestuhin siya. No. Pinabigyan natin siya na matulog siya sa bahay niya," he told reporters at the sidelines of the 23rd anniversary of National Police College here.

"Dahil nakiusap sa akin ang mga senador na meron siyang special child doon sa bahay, baka magka-trauma yung bata kung arestuhin doon sa bahay. Pinagbigyan namin, merong human consideration," he added.

"Secure the perimeter"

He said the CIDG went to De Lima's house to "secure the perimeter."

"Ang purpose na pumunta doon sa bahay niya is i-secure siya para walang makasingit," Dela Rosa said. "Patulugin siya doon. Pumunta doon ang CIDG to secure her, isecure ang kanyang perimeter. Siguraduhin na the following day [ay] magsu-surrender siya."

Dela Rosa also said at that time he feared that someone would try to stop De Lima's arrest.

"Kasi mamaya kung sinu-sino na lang ang makikialam doon sa kanya while there is warrant for her arrest. Baka kung sinu-sino na lang ang makialam sa kanya so kailangang i-secure natin," he said without elaborating.

Dela Rosa said it is not his intention to immediately arrest the neophyte senator, who is facing charges for allegedly allowing illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"Please inform the senator na hindi ako atat na atat na hulihin siya. Pinagbigyan ko yung request nila na  isang gabi. In fact, the following night binisita ko siya, pinuntahan ko siya doon," he said, referring to the PNP Custodial Center where De Lima is currently detained.

Arrest order

On Thursday, Judge Juanita Guerrero of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 issued warrant of arrest for De Lima, former Bureau of Correction OIC Rafael Ragos, and De Lima's former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan for their alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs at NBP.

In a press conference prior to her arrest, De Lima said she requested that the arrest warrant be served Friday morning at the Senate and allow her to go home first to be with her family.

When De Lima was already at her home, members of CIDG-National Capital Region, armed with the arrest warrant, travelled from Camp Crame to her house, but she was already back at the Senate when they arrived. She spent the night there and surrendered to authorities Friday morning.

De Lima has denied the charges against her, saying she is a victim of political persecution for being a critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his violent war against illgeal drugs. —KBK, GMA News