No jurisdiction? De Lima reminds Duterte of role in her detention

Senator Leila De Lima on Tuesday mocked President Rodrigo Duterte's position that he cannot investigate nor disclose the names of congressmen being linked by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission to alleged anomalous projects.

"Duterte says he has no jurisdiction over and cannot investigate legislators because they belong to a separate branch. So, all the while it appears I voluntarily walked to prison just for the heck of it," the detained opposition senator said in a statement.

The DOJ filed three separate drug cases against De Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte, in 2017. Currently still detained, De Lima has repeatedly denied the allegations that she was involved in the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary.

Earlier in the day, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the executive branch can launch an investigation against erring lawmakers through the Department of Justice. He said he finds it inconsistent for the President to take such a position, considering the DOJ's investigation and filing of drug cases against De Lima in 2017.

Further, De Lima pointed out that government agencies under the executive department also led the investigations against lawmakers who were allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam.

"Who investigated and filed the PDAF complaints against Enrile, Jinggoy, Revilla, and a dozen or so congressmen? Di ba NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at DOJ?" she said. "Paki-review po ng Political Law niyo."

Duterte earlier said he would forward the list of the names of congressmen allegedly involved in corrupt practices to the Office of the Ombudsman.

"If I do not have jurisdiction, I cannot name them publicly. Wala akong — sabihin ko lang — hindi sabihin ako’y natatakot or may kino-coveran ako na congressman, wala. Wala. Pagdating niyan sa listahan, it will be given to me and to me alone," Duterte said.

"Now when the time comes, I will ask the Secretary of Justice to review it. But review na cursory reading lang, I said because we — he does not have the jurisdiction either, he will pass it on to the Ombudsman," he added.—LDF, GMA News