De Lima calls out Duterte’s claims vs. ombudsman and chief justice

Senator Leila De Lima on Thursday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno are allegedly displaying “selective justice” amid the killings under the government’s drug war.

De Lima said in statement that there is “great and morbid irony in hearing the president complain about selective justice in his tirades against OMB and CJ” given that she sees the “poor and defenseless dying in the streets while the rich, powerful and influential are shielded from the shoot-from-the-hip brand of justice.”

“Mr. President, who are you to cry foul about selective justice?” De Lima said.

De Lima cited the cases of former senators, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, who are still able to defend themselves in the ongoing trials before the Sandiganbayan even after they have been duly charged with involvement in the PDAF scam as well as that of Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who was charged of plunder but now out on bail.

“Only in the president’s skewed definition of ‘justice’ are these rich, influential and powerful men the poster boys for injustice,” De Lima said.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 09/ 01 / 17)