Women’s group defends De Lima on ‘lover’ issue

A Cebu-based women’s group came to the defense of embattled lady senator Leila De Lima, the latest victim of President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirade or what others would call as his “shame campaign” against public officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

“It was below the belt,” said Tessie Fernandez, executive director of Lihok Filipina.

“Don’t take personal issues. It’s separate from government issues,” Fernandez said of Duterte’s allegations that De Lima kept a married “driver-lover” and built him a house.

Fernandez was in Hilongos, Leyte yesterday for a provincial summit on the prevention of human trafficking which De Lima, the scheduled keynote speaker, failed to attend.

According to Fernandez, the senator was represented by her chief of staff.

Had De Lima attended the summit yesterday, Fernandez said that she would have wanted to give her a hug.

“If you disagree on something, then your personal life and personal issues are also discussed and included, you will be publicly shamed. That is unfair,” Fernandez said.

De Lima, chair of the senate committee on justice and human rights, had earlier launched a senate probe on the increasing number of drug-related extrajudicial killings in the country.

In an interview last Wednesday, Duterte lashed at De Lima calling her an “immoral woman” whose “driver-lover,” according to Duterte, collected drug payoffs.

“Whether it is true or not, then that (driver-lover) should remain a private and personal matter even if she is a public person,” said Fernandez in defense of De Lima.

“If they want to prove something then they should go to court and observe due process,” Fernandez added.

For her, what Duterte did to the lady-senator was disappointing.

“When will this (shaming) end?” Fernandez said.

Fernandez plans to meet with other women’s groups to discuss whether to launch a movement in support of De Lima.