Philippine MP files petition against Duterte ‘attacks’

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) – A Philippine senator who has been vocal in criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs has filed a petition with the Supreme Court over “attacks on her womanhood and dignity as a person”.

Leila de Lima was quoted by local media as saying Monday that her right to privacy in life, liberty or security was “under threat by no less than the President himself".

"Enough is enough," she told reporters in Manila, describing the petition as "the first of a series of legal offensives" she plans to file against Duterte in an attempt to test his presidential immunity.

De Lima, who initiated a Senate committee probe earlier this year into alleged extrajudicial killings under the anti-drug drive, has been accused by Duterte of collecting drug money through an alleged lover to support her senatorial bid in the last elections -- allegations she has denied.

Meanwhile, a House of Representatives inquiry has been launched into allegations that De Lima -- a former secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which supervises prison facilities -- and other former officials had been involved in the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison near Manila.

The petition filed Monday said De Lima was requesting the Supreme Court "to bar the President and his men from making public statements that ‘malign’ her as a woman and a person, notably references or discrimination against her sexuality”.

"Since petitioner's right to privacy in life, liberty or security have been violated and continue to be threatened by the President's unlawful attacks on her womanhood and dignity as a person, she has no other recourse but to seek relief from this Honorable Court in the form of a writ of habeas data," it added.

De Lima insisted presidential immunity does not cover “verbal attacks” against her since such moves “constitute unlawful, unofficial conduct that have nothing to with the President's duties and responsibilities", according to the petition.

Meanwhile, the presidential palace has responded to the petition by calling it “a diversionary tactic” related to the drug-related allegations against her.

"Senator De Lima’s filing of a petition before the Supreme Court is calculated to generate media noise to drown out the accusations against her," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella was quoted as saying by GMA News.

"By [portraying] herself as a victim she seeks to distance herself from the intimate relationships which were also intertwined with drug trafficking while she was DOJ Secretary," he added, accusing her of playing the “gender card”.

Under Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, more than 4,440 people have been killed in police operations and “vigilante-style killings” since July 1, according to national police data cited by Rappler.