PANELO
Sen. Leila de Lima should be investigated over the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, particularly at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her term as justice secretary, according to presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo.
“Siya ang dapat imbestigahan kung bakit (She should be investigated why) during her watch, eh dumami ang naging involved sa (many people became involved in) drugs, dumami ang drug lord (the number of drug lords has increased),” Panelo said in an interview over state-run dzRB radio yesterday.
De Lima served as justice secretary for six years during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.
Panelo said the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa turned into a “factory of drugs” during De Lima’s stint at the Department of Justice.
“She should be liable for that,” he said.
De Lima earlier filed a resolution urging the Senate to conduct an investigation on the series of killings of drug suspects.
But Panelo turned the tables on De Lima, calling for an investigation against the neophyte senator.
Presumptive Speaker Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez also called for an inquiry on De Lima over illegal drugs.
Alvarez said he would file a resolution to probe the former justice secretary over the illegal drugs trade inside the national penitentiary.