Kerwin Espinosa, son of the late mayor Rolando Espinosa, testified then on how he gave P8 million in drug money before the May 2016 elections to the senator, through her driver, Ronnie Dayan, allegedly for her senatorial campaign kitty. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
(Eagle News) — Because of new leads that have come up, the Office of the Ombudsman is now investigating Senator Leila de Lima over allegations that she was involved in the illegal drug trade, even as Congress is set to file an ethics complaint against the senator for alleged obstruction of justice.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said her office is conducting a fact-finding inquiry of De Lima’s alleged drug connections.
“Because there have been some leads so we gave it due course by conducting fact-finding,” Morales said.
“Well there is a pending case filed before the deputy ombudsman of the Visayas and that is against De Lima … so we are conducting fact-finding,” Morales said in a recent interview at the sidelines of the annual homecoming of the University of the Philippines College of Law.
Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Harry Roque said he would discuss with the House committee on justice his proposal for Congress to file an ethics complaint against the lady senator for preventing her former bodyguard and , Ronnie Dayan, from testifying in a previous House hearing.
Senate says call to remove De Lima premature
This was after the Senate refused to initiate any action against De Lima, saying that the House should first complete its investigation.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said that the House’s call to remove De Lima from her post was “premature.”
“How come they want the Senate to act as if there is a final determination of the actual facts? Let us not be too excited. Let the House do what they have to do, observe due process, observe proper procedure, then give the Senate the official result of their findings,” he said.
“The House has not even charged her with anything and has not even come out with a final order. Let’s wait and see what they’ll do and cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.
“We have our own rules. For a member of the House to tell the Senate to do something, do your thing first before you ask us to do something,” he added.
Senators Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, urged the House justice committee to file an ethics complaint against De Lima before the Senate.
