Ni NOEL ABUEL
Sa halip na bigyan ng opsyon na ilipat sa ibang kulungan gaya ng iminungkahi ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong Marcos, Jr., dapat bigyan na ng kalayaan mula sa limang taong pagkakakulong si dating Senador Leila de Lima.
Ito ang Iginiit ni Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman sa pagsasabing dapat nang palayain si De Lima dahil sa gawa-gawa lamang na kaso laban dito kaugnay ng pagkakasangkot sa illegal na droga.
“If her police custodians cannot secure her from a hostage-taker, once liberated the people themselves can be her guardians to protect her from harm,” sabi ni Lagman.
Sinabi pa ng kongresista na noong nagdiwang ng kaarawan si De Lima ay pinagbawalan itong dalawin ng mga kaibigan at iba pang tagasuporta ngunit nakapagtatakang nagawang makapasok ang ilang inmates sa loob ng piitan ng dating senador.
“While well-meaning visitors were barred from greeting her on her birthday, the culpable laxity of her jailers has allowed an armed intruder to penetrate her cell and seize her hostage,” ayon pa kay Lagman.
Samantala, sinabi naman ni House Deputy Minority Leader at ACT Teachers party list Rep. France Castro na ngayong nalagay sa alanganin ang buhay ni De Lima, dapat na itong palayain o pagayagang makapagpiyansa.
“With the recent, foiled hostage taking victimizing former Senator Leila de Lima, it is urgent that she be freed immediately or at least be granted bail as more of the witnesses against her already recanted their statements and said that these were made under duress,” sabi nito.
Idinagdag pa ni Castro na marami nang kongresista ang sumusuporta at pinamamadali ang pagpasa sa House Resolution no. 198 na nananawagan sa Department of Justice (DOJ) na bawiin na ang natitirang kaso ni De Lima dahil sa pag-atras at pagbawi ng ilang testigo sa kaso ng dating senador.
“We are also enjoining our colleagues and the House leadership to support and fast track House Resolution 198 to urge the Department of Justice to immediately withdraw the remaining charges against detained Senator Leila N. de Lima in light of the recent recantations given by key witnesses in her drug cases and to move for her release from unjust and arbitrary detention. We also hope that with Pres. Marcos Jr.’s intention to visit the former senator her release will be further expedited,” pahayag pa ni Castro.
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