Enrile: There is no such thing as political prisoner

ON DE LIMA ARREST
Published February 24, 2017 12:22pm

By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News

For former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, there is no such thing as a ‘political prisoner.’

Enrile made this comment Friday in reaction to Senator Leila De Lima's claim that she will be the first political detainee under the Duterte administration. Earlier in the day, De Lima turned herself in to authorities over one of three drug cases she is facing. 

“Anong political prisoner? There's no such thing as political prisoner,” Enrile stressed in an interview with reporters during the 31st anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

“You are a prisoner, period,” he added.

De Lima earlier said she has long prepared herself to be the first “political prisoner” under the current administration for her staunch opposition to the government’s war on drugs which has claimed thousands of lives.

“I have long prepared myself to be the first political prisoner under this regime, because the criminal charges and prosecution are nothing less than a politically motivated act by the Duterte regime to clamp down on any vocal opposition against its support for a policy of EJK (extrajudicial killings) in dealing with suspected criminals,” De Lima said in a statement.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 ordered De Lima’s arrest on Thursday.

But for Enrile, De Lima calling herself a political prisoner was unfair for him who was also jailed before.

“Kami na binilanggo nila na wala namang kamuwang-muwang, ano kami? Sila santo, santa, kami demonyo?” he said.

Enrile had been arrested in 1990 and 2001, both on grounds of rebellion. The cases were both dismissed.

He was also arrested in 2014 over a plunder case for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam. He was allowed to post bail in August 2015 by the Supreme Court for humanitarian reasons.

Enrile said it is better to leave De Lima’s case in the rule of law.

“Bawat isa sa atin, kung may paratang, sagutin. Wala nang reklamo. Pabayaan na lang sa husgado litisin ang problema. Kung wala kang kasalanan, bakit ka matatakot?” he said. — RSJ, GMA News

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