Senator Leila de Lima on Friday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s continued tirade against her was nothing but an effort to cover up his supposed “betrayal” over the country’s territorial claims in disputed waters.
De Lima issued a handwritten note anew criticizing Duterte after the President tagged her, along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Vice President Leni Robredo, in supposed efforts to oust him from office.
“Ano man ang ibato nya sa akin, na pawang mga kasinungalingan, ay hindi magiging katumbas ng pagtraydor at pagbenta nya sa ating bansa sa Tsina,” De Lima said.
“Ang ating mga teritoryo at pag-aari sa karagatan na pinaglaban ng ating mga ninuno, at kinilala ng Arbitral Tribunal at the Hague, ay binebenta naman ng namumuno ngayon,” she added referring to the ruling issued last year by the Permanent Court of Arbitration favoring the Philippines in the case it filed against China over disputed territories in the South China Sea.
“Ginagamit lang ako upang pagtakpan ang katraydoran nya sa ating bansa at ang iba pang kapalpakan ng pamahalaan na ito,” De Lima further said.
GMA News Online is still trying to reach Malacañang for comment as of posting time.
Earlier this week, Duterte referred to De Lima as the “queen of hell” and “thick-faced” for her alleged involvement in illegal drug trade.
De Lima is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame over drug-related charges, which she has repeatedly denied.
The senator earlier filed a Senate resolution seeking an investigation into the supposed “maritime activities” of China in Benham Rise, the underwater landmass northeast of Luzon that was declared part of the country's continental shelf.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had expressed concern about reports that Chinese ships were spotted in the area last year.
Duterte, however, downplayed the issue, saying "there’s no incursion because may agreement kami" with China.
Source : GMA