The camp of reelectionist Senator Leila de Lima on Sunday, April 3, questioned the media interview of retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr., who was convicted of kidnapping and serious illegal detention while she wasn't even allowed to attend virtual campaign rallies.
De Lima has been acquitted of one of the three alleged drug cases against her. Two of these cases are still pending in Court.
Despite the lack of conviction, the Court has denied the senator's petition to join candidates' forums, debates, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) e-rally platform.
And yet, lawyer Fhillip Sawali, De Lima's chief-of-staff, questioned the privileges granted to Palparan, who appeared on the SMNI News Channel on Wednesday, March 30, despite being a convicted felon.
“Hindi lang (It’s not only) weird, scandalous po ang nangyari itong (is what happened that this) convict na si (who is) Palparan sa (in) Bilibid ay pinayagang mag(pa)-interview at magsalita ng mga kasinungalingan laban kay Senator de Lima at sa iba pang mga (was allowed to be interviewed and speak lies against Senator Leila de Lima and other) personalities,” he said over dzXL in a radio program originally meant for Vice President Leni Robredo.
The Vice President, under whose ticket De Lima is running again for senator, has not appeared on her radio show since the start of the campaign season last February 8.
“Talaga pong (Really) this speaks volume how ang pagtrato sa kritiko at kakampi sa administrasyon na ito. Isa na naman po itong halimbawa ng (on the treatment of critics and allies by this administration. This is another example of) persecution kay (of) Leila de Lima,” Sawali added, while also questioning the “timing” of the interview.
READ: Guevarra to look into Palparan's interview
During the said media interview, Palparan was even allowed to talk about the case on which he was convicted. Palparan was the mastermind behind the kidnapping and illegal detention of two University of the Philippines students in 2006.
Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno have been missing while the retired officer has been incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison since 2018.
His appearance on SMNI News Channel drew rage from activists while the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to probe why Palparan was allowed to do a media interview without prior notice to the Court that tried his case.
Sawali lamented that De Lima did not receive the same treatment even though she wasn't convicted of any crimes.
Their camp is also not hopeful that the Court will grant their petition to let the senator join the last leg of the campaign season or the Miting de Avance of Team Robredo-Pangilinan or TROPA.
“Malungkot man aminin (As sad as it is to admit), given the pattern of the decision-making ng mga (of the) authorities po natin kay (on) Senator Leila de Lima ay hindi kami talaga (we are not really) confident na makukuha iyon (that we will get that),” he said.
READ: De Lima's request to participate in Comelec e-rally denied
The only thing they are hopeful about is for the Court to allow the reelectionist senator to vote in her own precinct, which she was allowed to do in the past elections.
De Lima has received international support from pro-democracy lawmakers, even in the United States, calling her detention at Camp Crame a "political persecution" because of her criticisms of President Duterte and his administration.