Former vice president Leni Robredo and the leaders of the once-ruling Liberal Party (LP) on Sunday, Oct. 9, expressed concern over the hostage-taking attempt of detained former senator Leila de Lima at the Camp Crame in Quezon City as they also called for her immediate release.
Robredo, who is currently in Boston to attend an eight-month fellowship program as one of Harvard University’s Hauser Leaders, tweeted about the incident that took place on Sunday morning.
“Dasal namin ang iyong kaligtasan at tuluyang paglaya (We pray for your safety and release) Sen Leila. Ang atin ding dasal sa kaligtasan at agarang paggaling ni (Our prayers for the safety and immediate recovery of) PCpl Roger Agustin,” she wrote.
De Lima was taken hostage on Sunday morning as three inmates linked to Islamist terrorist groups attempted to escape the detention facility.
Agustin was injured, while De Lima was not hurt.
The former senator has been detained inside the Camp Crame Custodial Center since February 2017 because of what her camp calls “trumped-up” drug charges – one of three of which she has already been acquitted of last Feb. 2021.
Former senator Kiko Pangilinan, the LP’s party chairperson, spoke of his concern that such an incident could take place inside the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) custodial center, which has maximum security.
READ: #FreeLeilaNow trends on Twitter after De Lima hostage-taking
“We seek a full accounting of the incident and find out if there was negligence,” he said in a statement.
“We also reiterate our call that government take swift measures to fast-track the resolution of her cases. Former Sen. De Lima does not belong in prison, is being unjustly detained, and must be released,” he added.
Former Ifugao Rep. and LP’s secretary-general Teddy Baguilat Jr. likewise condemned the hostage-taking incident and questioned the possibility of the crime happening in a tightly-secured facility.
“Bilang laging bumibisita kay (As someone who regularly visits) Leila, alam ko kung gaano kahigpit ang (I know how tight the) security sa loob ng (is inside the) custodial center,” he said in a Facebook post.
“Sa tuwing kami ay dumadalaw, maraming ipinagbabawal sa amin. Kaya nakapagtataka kung paanong nangyari ang ganitong krimen sa loob mismo ng (Every time we visit, a lot are being prohibited. That’s why it is confusing how this crime happened inside the) Camp Crame,” Baguilat wrote.
He repeated their call to free De Lima from “unjust detention” and to junk the charges against her.