Pubdate: Fri, 19 Aug 2016
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Column: Sketches
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2016
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Ana Marie Pamintuan

BATTLE LINES

As of yesterday, Sen. Leila de Lima didn't look "destroyed," although 
she was clearly distressed and admitted feeling scared and concerned 
for herself and those close to her.

Lamenting the "abuse" and "misuse" of executive power, De Lima 
announced that her committee would proceed with its probe on Monday 
into the continuing killing spree. And if the administration is 
correct in its suspicions, no one is backing out either from efforts 
to bring the killings before the United Nations  a possibility that 
seems to make the President fly into a fit of rage.

So the battle lines are drawn. This is shaping up to be a war of 
attrition, matira ang matibay.

President Duterte, in crushing or destroying those who get his goat, 
is making full use of his six years of immunity from suit, and his 
super majority that is in control of the House of Representatives 
where impeachment cases emanate. What has he got to lose in this war? 
Not a lot, if he's telling the truth when he says he can give up the 
presidency any time, that he feels overworked and underpaid, and that 
dealing with the problems of the nation has made him lose sleep and his libido.

If his opponents - still a tiny minority - succeed, he might get 
haled before a UN court to face trial for crimes against humanity. 
The lawyer in him is already studying what exactly constitutes this 
offense, and so far he seems to believe the accusations against him 
won't stand in any court.

So when Rodrigo Duterte says he's got nothing to lose in picking his 
current fights, it looks like he means it. As for De Lima, what has 
she got to lose by confronting the President? Also not much, if the 
accusations are baseless. She might even become a rallying point for 
those who, even before the 100th day of the Duterte administration, 
are already appalled by the killings but scared to speak up. She 
could become a symbol of courageous resistance and the conscience of 
a nation, which is usually a boon for a politician in this country.

If, on the other hand, there is basis for the accusations, she could 
lose everything - her honor, her assets, even her Senate seat and her 
liberty. She loses her life, though not literally.

De Lima may want to issue a stronger denial of all the charges hurled 
by Dirty Rody. She knows how Filipinos react to statements that a 
person would answer accusations before the proper forum. In airing 
his accusations on national television, the forum has already been 
chosen by the President. De Lima can always refute the charges on TV; 
all the private networks are sure to accord her full coverage.

I think many people believe the President's attack against De Lima 
and the investigation by the Department of Justice are meant to stop 
her committee's probe into the drug killings. But without a strong 
denial from the senator, people will also harbor suspicions that the 
President's accusations against her are true. They think that 
benefiting from drug trafficking is a serious offense that can 
warrant imprisonment for life, so it's an accusation that isn't 
publicly hurled lightly, especially by a President who once served as 
a prosecutor.

While Dirty Rody rambles in his speeches, he tends to choose his 
words deliberately when airing serious accusations. He said De Lima's 
former driver collected drug payola from the national penitentiary in 
Muntinlupa during the election campaign, but admitted he wasn't sure 
if the money was forwarded to her.

The buzz in legal circles is that a witness is set to provide that 
missing link, which could pin down De Lima and complete her 
destruction  if she is that female official the President had vowed 
to "destroy." As one pro- administration lawmaker commented the other 
day, the Chief Executive wouldn't hurl his accusations if he didn't 
have the goods on De Lima.

Yesterday, in another speech, President Rody said he was just telling 
the truth and would not retract his accusations. Meanwhile, in 
Pangasinan, authorities have reportedly started investigating De 
Lima's former driver, identified as Ronnie Palisoc Dayan, in 
connection with the President's statement. It may be cold comfort to 
De Lima, but there are people who expect her committee to proceed 
with the probe  regardless of who heads the panel. It's expected of 
the institution, not of any particular person. Especially after 
Philippine National Police officials told the Senate yesterday that 
665 drug suspects have been killed by cops since July 1, with a 
larger number 899 so far  killed by vigilantes.

For state forces, taking human life requires utmost accountability to 
the public. Senators, apart from crafting laws, provide the checks 
and balances that help ensure this accountability.

That's what the Senate probe into the killing spree is expected to do.

Government prosecutors are said to be readying their case against De 
Lima and her former driver. Yesterday, Naughty Rody dropped another 
bombshell: he said the driver could be tapped as a state witness.

Unless a criminal indictment curtails her mobility, however, De Lima 
has a job to do. She can bear in mind the saying that what doesn't 
kill her should make her strong.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom