Manila: A Philippines Senator and staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs was arrested on Friday by law enforcement agents after charges were filed in court alleging she received money from drug dealers inside the country's prisons.
Senator Leila de Lima, her former driver and bodyguard and a former national prison official were ordered to be arrested by a local court after a judge found merit in criminal charges filed by the Department of Justice last week.
"The truth will come out and I will achieve justice. I am innocent," she told reporters shortly before law enforcers escorted her away from her office.
De Lima, 57, had sought refuge at the Senate on Thursday night after avoiding police when they tried to arrest her at her home.
De Lima is accused of orchestrating a drug trafficking ring when she was justice secretary in the previous administration of Benigno Aquino.
De Lima this week branded Duterte a "sociopathic serial killer" as she called for ordinary Filipinos to stand up in opposition to his drug war, which has seen more than 6,500 people killed since he took office eight months ago.
"The arrest of de Lima is a blatant attempt by the Philippine government to silence criticism of President Duterte and divert attention away from serious human rights violations in the 'war on drugs'," it said.
"The war on illegal drugs targets all who are involved and the arrest of an incumbent senator demonstrates the President's strong resolve to fight pushers, peddlers and their protectors," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
Senator Leila de Lima, her former driver and bodyguard and a former national prison official were ordered to be arrested by a local court after a judge found merit in criminal charges filed by the Department of Justice last week.
"The truth will come out and I will achieve justice. I am innocent," she told reporters shortly before law enforcers escorted her away from her office.
De Lima, 57, had sought refuge at the Senate on Thursday night after avoiding police when they tried to arrest her at her home.
Advertisement
De Lima is accused of orchestrating a drug trafficking ring when she was justice secretary in the previous administration of Benigno Aquino.
Advertisement
De Lima this week branded Duterte a "sociopathic serial killer" as she called for ordinary Filipinos to stand up in opposition to his drug war, which has seen more than 6,500 people killed since he took office eight months ago.
Advertisement
"The arrest of de Lima is a blatant attempt by the Philippine government to silence criticism of President Duterte and divert attention away from serious human rights violations in the 'war on drugs'," it said.
Advertisement
"The war on illegal drugs targets all who are involved and the arrest of an incumbent senator demonstrates the President's strong resolve to fight pushers, peddlers and their protectors," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Philippines Slams China's "Unjustified, Illegal, Reckless" Actions Over Disputed Reef Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake Strikes Philippines Schools Shut, Flights Cancelled As Typhoon Gaemi Brings Rain In Philippines Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death JD Vance's Bestselling Tale From Rags To Riches Can Be His Political Tool Trump Made Rs 2 Crore From Bible Sales, Holds Rs 8 Crore In Crypto: Report Malaika Transforms Stunning Street Style To Ethnic Fashion In Melbourne Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.