Duterte gov’t files criminal complaint against critic

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) - The Philippines Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a criminal complaint against a senator instrumental in worldwide criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

Leila de Lima, a human rights advocate and former DOJ secretary, has called for foreign intervention to put an end to the “state-inspired” extrajudicial murders she says have been instigated by Duterte since he was elected to power in May.

Although the president denies any link, the European Union and United States have expressed alarm, while rights groups have accused Duterte of allowing a state of lawlessness where criminals can settle vendettas with impunity.

The Rappler news website reported Wednesday that the DOJ accused De Lima of advising her former driver-cum-bodyguard -- who Duterte has alleged was her lover -- against testifying during a House of Representatives inquiry into allegations that she and other former officials were involved in the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison near Manila.

The DOJ said Ronnie Dayan "deliberately failed to obey" a House subpoena because De Lima "willfully, knowingly, and unlawfully advised him through his daughter Hannah Mae Dayan, to hide and not to appear in the said scheduled hearing of the House Committee on Justice."

The House inquiry was launched after De Lima -- who as DOJ secretary supervised prison facilities -- initiated a Senate committee probe earlier this year into alleged extrajudicial killings under Duterte’s anti-drug drive.

De Lima has denied the allegations against her -- including that she paid for her election campaign with funds obtained from drug dealers -- and filed a petition with the Supreme Court last month over “attacks on her womanhood and dignity as a person."

The Philippine Star reported Wednesday that authorities are not expected to serve a warrant against De Lima for the light obstruction of justice charge.

If found guilty, she could face a prison term of between one month and a day and six months and a fine of 200-1,000 Philippine pesos ($4-20).

Since July 1, more than 6,000 people have been killed over suspected drug links -- with around two-thirds of the deaths attributed to “vigilante-style killings” and the remainder to police operations, according to national police data cited by Rappler.