It’s no secret that the lady senator and the president’s top critic Leila De Lima has been going through the roughest patch of her life the past couple of months.
But as it turns out, despite the combined efforts of the majority senators and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, they still don’t have an “airtight” case against De Lima and her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as the justice secretary.
Yes, it’s still all talk and drama and no legal substance.
In http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/822922/doj-admits-no-airtight-case-yet-vs-de-lima on Fri, Oct 7, Aguirre said, “Hindi pa ako nagsasabing airtight yung kaso ko kasi yung aking case built up with respect to these banks records, bank accounts gusto kong ma-connect, mai-link doon sa mga drug trading na kasangakot si De Lima.”
(I’m not saying my case is airtight because it is built up with respect to these banks records, bank accounts, I want it to connect and link to the drug trading involving Secretary De Lima.)
Aguirre explains that he wants to make sure all the details are in place before he files criminal charges against the senator.
“Kapag ako’y nag file ng case gusto ko airtight. Marami pa akong gagawin, ni hindi pa sumasagot sa amin ang AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council). ‘Yun ang importante: yung makuha ko kung saan pumupunta yung mga at least PHP 15 billion na nakukuha sa drug money,” he said.
(When I file a case, I want it to be airtight. I have so many things left to do, the AMLC hasn’t even replied to us yet. That’s what’s important: to know where the at least PHP 15 billion from the drug money really goes.)
When asked about the source of the money, Aquirre told the Inquirer, “Wala pa, yun yung ini-establish ko (None yet, I’m still establishing it),” adding that he simply stated that there seems to be an arrangement between De Lima and her security detail when it comes to monetary transactions.
Aguirre said that the right time to file a case will come and not just for De Lima, but for anyone who’s involved in the illegal drug trade.
Meanwhile, President Duterte remains adamant of his claims about De Lima’s involvement. He even said she was the one who opened the government to the menace that are narco-politicians.
Speaking at the SM Convention Center in Davao City on Fri, Oct 7, Duterte said, “The portals of the national government have been opened to narco-politics by the election of De Lima. Until now she plays coy, she does not want to admit her immorality.”
