Detained Senator Leila De Lima fired back at Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. who was opposing a proposal to allow her to participate in Senate sessions.
“People know who are, and are not, the real victims of political persecution,” De Lima said in her short message to Revilla on Wednesday, August 28.
On Tuesday, Revilla, who was detained over plunder charges, stressed that it would be a form of “special treatment” if the detained senator would be allowed to join in the Senate proceedings because when he was incarcerated due to what he called “politically motivated charges,” there was “a very vocal group” who was against his participation in the sessions.
“It is funny that among that group were Leila De Lima herself and some of those signatories in the open letter released yesterday,” he said.
Revilla issued his statement after eight former senators signed a statement, expressing support to the proposed Senate Resolution No. 51 filed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Panfilo Lacson to let De Lima take part in plenary sessions via teleconferencing, video conferencing, or other forms of remote or electronic communications.
Those who signed the statement were former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, ex-senators Rene Saguisag, Wigberto “Ka Bobby” Tañada, Sr., Sergio “Serge” Osmena III, Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Mar Roxas, and Francisco “Kit” Tatad.
Revilla also said that during his time, the official position of the Senate leadership was that the absence of three senators “would have no impact on legislation.”
“Wala ‘yang pinagkaiba sa sitwasyon ko noon (That’s no different from my situation before),” he said.
“Equal protection and fair play dictates that Leila De Lima cannot be allowed to participate in Senate proceedings, even if only remotely,” he continued.
If she would be allowed, Revilla argued it would amount to giving De Lima “favor” above other detainees, and allowing her to vote in absence would be a “travesty against the Senate as a whole as this has no basis in the Rules.”
De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, has been in detention since 2017 over drug-related charges. She celebrated her 60th birthday on Tuesday, saying she has “no regrets in spite of a rollercoaster life.”