De Lima irked by opinion that ‘political climate’ led to her detention

Senator Leila De Lima, while contemplating her impending second anniversary in detention at Camp Crame, on Sunday said that she was infuriated and hurt over the oversimplification of her situation as a mere ‘consequence of the political climate.’

“Now, what really irks me is when people… attempt to summarize my unjust detention and political persecution as a consequence of the political climate.  ‘Weather-weather lang yan, Leila,’” de Lima said in a statement.

“It infuriates and hurts me – this unfair oversimplification of what I am going through.”

The senator added that she did not persecute anyone for political reasons, steal, sell or trade drugs nor conspire with anyone in a criminal activity.

“I confess to one thing and one thing only: I made powerful enemies by performing my mandate without fear or favor,” she said.

Since February 24, 2017, the senator has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame over her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

“This is not a matter of “weather-weather,” De Lima said.

“I am here, under detention, for no other reason than our efforts then at accountability led us up a trail that reached powerful and influential personalities: a former President, a Senate President, Senators, Congressmen, local government chief executives … and now even an incumbent President," she said. — Joviland Rita/DVM, GMA News