SENATOR Leila de Lima on Thursday branded as “garbage” the “matrix” released by President Rodrigo Duterte showing her alleged links to illegal drug operations, appealing to the Chief Executive to stop his attacks.
“As I have often said, I will not dignify further this so-called drug matrix which, as any ordinary lawyer knows too well, properly belongs to the garbage can,” said de Lima in news conference.
“This is my number one birthday wish. I seriously hope that the President would leave me alone, that he puts an end very soon to this madness,” de Lima said.
The former Justice secretary also said she wants to have a love life.
“I’m sad because it seems the President is bent on finding rumors about me. I really don’t want to have a love life anymore. I don’t want to remarry after the annulment of my marriage, that is my commitment to myself and to my children, that I won’t be remarried,” she said.
But given the situation, de Lima said she might need a partner who could somehow help her.
She clarified that “Warren,” who the President claimed was her new boyfriend, worked for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and is now part of the security staff assigned to her.
The neophyte senator, however, described the President’s latest revelation as “plain and simple chismis (gossip).”
“Maybe it’s part of their strategy…trying to diminish my credibility and trying to break my spirit. They’re dead wrong if they can think they can break my spirit,” de Lima said.