De Lima seeks Supreme Court help against Duterte

MANILA - Senator Leila de Lima on Monday sought protection from the Supreme Court against President Rodrigo Duterte, as she launched a "legal offensive" against government's efforts to link her to the illegal drug trade.

De Lima filed a petition for habeas data, a legal remedy to secure information related to a person whose life or liberty is at risk.

"Ang sinampahan ko ng kaso ay si Rodrigo Roa Duterte, hindi ang Pangulo ng ating bansa. Nagkataon lang na ang isa sa mga maskarang isinusuot ni Rodrigo Roa Duterte ay ang maskara ng pagka-Pangulo ng ating bansa," she said.

(I am suing Rodrigo Roa Duterte, not the President of country. it just so happened that one of the masks worn by Rodrigo Roa Duterte is that of the President of the country."

"Si Rodrigo Roa Duterte ang aking sinampahan ng kaso dahil sa kahindik-hindik, karimarimarim at kasuklam-suklam na mga hakbang at pananalita niya laban sa akin -- mga pananalita na walang kinalaman sa kanyang tungkulin bilang Pangulo, kahit na pilit niyang ginagamit at sinasamantala ang posisyong iyan para maisakatuparan ang kanyang personal na pagnanasa na parusahan ako."

(I am suing Rodrigo Roa Duterte because of his shocking, disgusting and revolting actions and statements against me -- statements that have nothing to do with his job as President, even if he continues to use and abuse his position to pursue his personal desire to punish me.)

Last week, detained crime lord Jaybee Sebastian filed graft charges against De Lima for allegedly commissioning him to sell drugs from behind bars to raise funds for her senatorial campaign this year. De Lima claims the allegations are fabricated.

Duterte had alleged that De Lima's former driver and alleged lover collected money from drug lords detained at the New Bilibid Prisons.

De Lima had investigated Duterte's alleged involvement in extra-judicial killings as Davao City mayor when she was chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights. She led a similar inquiry in the Senate.