MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila De Lima described the president's complaint about the alleged "selective justice" of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno ironic amid the killings under the government's allegedly linked to the anti-narcotics campaign.
"Mr. President, who are you to cry foul about selective justice?" De Lima raised in a statement Thursday.
"He complains, for instance, that two senators – who have been duly charged with involvement in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scam, who have had the best legal representations and given all the opportunity to refute the charges against them in various stages of the investigation and are, even now, defending themselves in the ongoing trials before the Sandiganbayan – are the victims of selective justice by Ombudsman Morales," De Lima said, referring to former senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada.
Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, also charged with plunder, is out on bail.
"Only in the president's skewed definition of 'justice' are these rich, influential and powerful men the poster boys for injustice," she added.
The detained senator accused Duterte of wanting Morales and Sereno removed from office to weaken the Office of the Ombudsman and the Supreme Court as independent institutions.
"He wants to hasten the removal from office of two women who dare to hold on to their independence, integrity and impartiality in the face of a president who expects and demands blind loyalty and kowtowing from everyone," she said.
De Lima also said the president twists the facts to suit his narrative because "he needs to divert attention from the major issues that he should be addressing."
These issues include Duterte's admission of his inability to solve the drug problem and eradicate corruption in the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Customs.
"There is, therefore, more than irony in the president's complaint. There is an evil genius behind it. Clearly, he sees the writing on the wall: the day will come when he and his men will have to answer for their sins. When that day comes, he is making sure that the Ombudsman and the judiciary are in his pocket," she said.
Duterte vs. Morales, Sereno
Duterte on Tuesday slammed Morales for her alleged bias in handling complaints filed at her office, saying she has mastered "the art of selective justice."
"Everyone calls for 'due process' and (dispensing) of justice without fear or favor," Duterte said.
The tension between Duterte and Morales has risen after the ombudsman denounced the president for encouraging the authorities to kill suspected drug suspects.
READ: Duterte warns ombudsman: Your hold on office 'precarious'
© Philstar.com Detained Sen. Leila De Lima on Thursday described the president’s complaint about the alleged “selective justice” of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno ironic amid the killings under the government’s war n drugs. AP/Bullit Marquez, File
Duterte on Tuesday also accused Sereno of "sitting on" the temporary restraining order against two contraceptives regulated under the Reproductive Health Law.
The High Court, however, clarified that the TRO only covers the distribution of two contraceptive implants and does not suspend the full implementation of RH Law. The TRO will be lifted as soon as the Food and Drug Administration certifies that the two contraceptive implants do not cause abortions.
On Wednesday, 25 members of House of Representatives endorsed on Thursday an impeachment complaint against the chief justice.
Earlier this month, crime watchdog Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption also sought to impeach Sereno.