MANILA, Philippines – Senator Leila De Lima denied allegations that some P300 million went missing during the raid she led in the New Bilibid Prison in December 2014.

De Lima was reacting to the accusations made by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Tuesday, September 27.

De Lima, who led the 2014 raid as justice secretary, said there was no truth to Aguirre’s statement. She belittled the supposed witnesses and evidence of the DOJ chief, calling the claims “fantastic” tales which were only manufactured to attack her.

“Ang dami na nilang kino-concoct na mga fantastic tale. What? How many million? Oh my God. Sino na naman ‘yung witness na ‘yan? Sino na naman ‘yan?
Fantastic, fantastic,” De Lima told reporters.

(They have been concocting so many fantastic tales. What? How many million? Oh my God. Who is that witness now? Fantastic, fantastic.)

For De Lima, her critics seem to have lost ideas on how to “concoct” lies against her.

“Naku, Diyos ko, lalong nagiging fantastic ‘yung mga storya nila. Wala nang ibang mga maisip. Too much, too much,” De Lima said.

(Oh my God, their stories are getting more fantastic. They can’t think of anything else. It’s too much, too much.)

De Lima then challenged Aguirre to question all the agencies involved in the operations, which uncovered drug lords living like kings in luxury cells with stripper bars and jacuzzis.

“Tanungin ‘nyo na lang lahat ng mga agencies involved in the operations kung totoo ‘yan. Wala pong ganoon. Anong P300 million (Ask all agencies involved in the operations if it’s true. Nothing like that. What P300 million)?” she said.

Aguirre, in a press briefing, said the DOJ would present two witnesses in the House probe to prove the allegation that the first raid in 2014 yielded more than P300 million in cash, but only P1.6 million was declared by authorities then.

Release of private video? That’s ‘illegal’

Aguirre has also set his eyes on the alleged sex video of the senator with her former driver, Ronnie Dayan, saying this could prove De Lima’s complicity in the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary.

“Malaki ang significance (It has significance). Mag-eexplain ‘yun (It would explain) why Ronnie Dayan was powerful, why Ronnie Dayan was able to extract money from the drug lords because an ordinary driver could not do it,” the DOJ chief said.

Aguirre added he could present 3 alleged sex videos of De Lima if the senator would deny her romantic relationship with Dayan in a trial.

De Lima, in response to Aguirre, said the publication of such videos, if they indeed do exist, is illegal. She asked Aguirre and her other critics to stop the attacks against her.

“Alam niyang labag sa batas ‘yan kung meron mang ganyang video. Please, stop. puwede ba? Tigilan na ninyo talaga ako (He knows it is unlawful, if that video does exist. Please, stop. Spare me),“ she said.

“What are you going to do? What satisfaction are you getting from all these ah, this is so, so vile. This is so, so foul. Ayaw ko pong patulan ‘yung mga ganyan (I don’t want to dignify that). My goodness gracious, are they going to go to such extent? Ano bang napapala nila sa mga ganyan (What are they getting out of it)?” De Lima added.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte first brought to public curiosity the alleged private video of De Lima in August.

On Monday, September 26, Duterte said he might even show the “video” of De Lima with a guy. He said he might one day question De Lima on who the guy is – whether it’s inmate Jaybee Sebastian or Dayan. (READ: Duterte: De Lima will surely go to jail)

“I’d like to show to you a video. There is portrayed there a couple fucking, having sexual intercourse. Who is the man? Of course, you are you here. Who is the man portrayed there? Was he the one in the kubol (cottage) or the one who was driving you?” Duterte said to demonstrate his line of questioning at De Lima.

The senator, for his part, questioned Duterte on why he is so “obsessed” with her and her private life, which prompted her to say: “May gusto ba kayo sa akin? (Do you like me?)” – Rappler.com