The Makabayan bloc on Monday, Oct. 10, urged the House of Representatives to investigate the hostage-taking incident that involved detained former senator Leila de Lima and three inmates at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame over the weekend, and also joined earlier calls for her “immediate release.”
House Resolution No. 473, or the “Resolution Urging the Committee on Public Order and Safety to Conduct an Investigation, in Aid of Legislation, on the Hostage-Taking Perpetrated by an Inmate Against Former Senator Leila De Lima Inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame on October 9, 2022,” was filed by Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel.
“Now therefore be it resolved, that the House Committee on Public Order and Safety conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the hostage-taking perpetrated by an inmate against former senator De Lima inside the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame on October 9, 2022,” the resolution, a copy of which was sent to the media, read.
There is a need to investigate the incident because the custodial center was supposed to be a maximum security facility inside the PNP headquarters.
The lawmakers lamented that De Lima remains languishing in detention for what they claimed as "false allegations of involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice Secretary.”
READ: De Lima thankful for surviving near-death hostage-taking experience, asks prayers for wounded cop
“Whereas, the incident exposed how the former senator's life and safety is at serious risk even inside the detention center, thereby strengthening the call for her immediate release from prison,” the resolution added.
The resolution detailed what the former senator went through during the ordeal when inmate Feliciano Sulayao Jr., reportedly a subleader of local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, took De Lima hostage.
“De Lima recounted that Sulayao was determined to kill her since his two other companions were already dead, and that he was expecting that he would get killed too,” the resolution said, adding that the former lawmaker was “shoved, blindfolded, and bound by towels.”
Earlier, De Lima’s partymates in the Liberal Party (LP), including former vice president Leni Robredo and former senator Kiko Pangilinan, called for her release from detention.
READ: Ex-VP Robredo, LP leaders renew call for De Lima’s release
De Lima was taken hostage on Sunday morning as three inmates linked to Islamist terrorist groups attempted to escape the detention facility.
A policeman 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 February 2021.