De Lima: I will face arrest

SENATOR Leila De Lima, in a brief conference around 7 p.m. yesterday, said she was ready to face the charges filed against her.

The senator said her legal team has already filed the motion to quash the three non-bailable charges filed against her as she nearly broke down in tears.

"Wala pa naman pong nagse-serve ng warrant of arrest, ninanais ko po muna na makapiling ang aking pamilya," she added.

De Lima also announced that she will already pack her things and prepare for detention

detention and will wait at the senate today for the arresting team to get her.

"Wala akong balak na takasan ang mga kaso ko, wala po akong balak magtago, haharapin ko po ang mga kaso na yan," she said.

The conference followed after the news of the issuance of arrest warrants by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 on Thursday afternoon against De Lima, her former driver Ronnie Dayan, and former Bureau of Corrections officerin-charge Rafael Marcos Ragos.

The arrest warrant issued at 2 p.m. was in connection with the senator's alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drug inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her tenure as Justice Secretary.

In the order issued by Muntinlupa RTC Judge Juanita Guerrero, the court said there was probable cause for the issuance of the warrants of arrest against the accused.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said in an ANC interview that the "warrant of arrest is inevitable".

"The arrest warrant is expected because we filed strong cases against De Lima," Aguirre said. ccc and RCP (For full story visit www.sunstar.com.ph/ davao/)