Former senator Leila De Lima, who was detained for over six years on drug-related charges, expressed concern on Friday about a “pattern” of labeling political rivals as drug lords during the Duterte administration. Her statement came after former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog revealed a scheme to falsely accuse him and others of involvement in the drug trade.
De Lima recalled being the first to face such accusations. “Ako ang unang na-brand niya as ‘The Mother of Drug Lords’… ako ang unang siniraan nila,” she said in an Inquirer.net report, pointing to the political nature of the charges against her and others like Mabilog. She added that the revelations highlight a recurring tactic to target political figures.
Mabilog further revealed that there was an attempt to pressure him into implicating former senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas and Franklin Drilon as drug lords, a move he claims was politically motivated.
De Lima, who has consistently denied the charges, reiterated her stance that they were baseless and a form of retaliation for her investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war. On Friday, she also announced her candidacy as the lead nominee for the Mamamayang Liberal party-list, the sectoral arm of the Liberal Party.