(Eagle News)– Senator Leila De Lima on Monday (September 19) walked out of the session hall during Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s privilege speech, which singled out De Lima for allegedly “destroying the integrity and reputation” of the Senate and using the higher chamber to destroy the image of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Senator De Lima, in her desire to destroy the President, is destroying the integrity and reputation of the Senate,” Cayetano stressed.
“Worse, damaging the image of our country and people worldwide,” he added.
Cayetano also blasted De Lima for allegedly using the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights– which De Lima chairs– to go after Duterte.
“Ginagamit kasi ang committee, not for a factual finding on extrajudicial killings, but to go out after the President,” Cayetano noted.
In an interview, De Lima revealed why she walked out of the hall.
“I cannot stand it so I’m gonna deliver a privilege speech tomorrow instead of confronting him,” De Lima explained.
Senator Cayetano is a close ally and was the vice presidential candidate of Duterte in the 2016 national polls.
Last week, De Lima presented witness Edgar Matobato– a confessed member of Davao Death Squad– in the Senate hearing regarding drug related killings, and claimed that he killed individuals under Duterte’s orders.
