De Lima questions motive of graft complaint against her

MANILA, Philippines - Harassment, a nuisance suit.

That is how Justice Secretary Leila de Lima sees the complaint filed against her before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the deportation to China last February of 14 Taiwanese fugitives.

At the same time, she questioned the motive behind the complaint, which was filed at a time when her appointment has not yet been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments and during the exit of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

“I have not done anything that‘s not right. All my actions are those that I have to do. There are times you have to make tough decisions but no one can accuse me of doing intentional harm or damage or prejudice to anybody,” she told reporters in a chance interview yesterday.                

Lawyer Reynaldo Bagatsing filed on March 15 a request for investigation to determine if de Lima, National Bureau of Investigation director Magtanggol Gatdula and former Bureau of Immigration commissioner Ronaldo Ledesma abused their authority in the deportation of the Taiwanese nationals to China on Feb. 14. De Lima vowed to answer Bagatsing’s allegations “in due time.”  

“I don’t want to think that there‘s hidden agenda behind the filing of that case, but I can‘t help but wonder why it was filed at a time when the Ombudsman is on her way out,“ de Lima said. 

De Lima had repeatedly explained that the deportation to China was done in accordance with the one-China policy, under which Manila only recognizes Beijing as the legitimate Chinese government and Taiwan as a province of China.           

She said the deportation order was issued based on a request from Beijing that issued arrest warrants against the 14 Taiwanese involved in $20-million online fraud cases.

The deportation offended Taiwan, which demanded an apology and threatened to stop hiring Filipino workers. Instead of an apology, the government sent former senator Manuel Roxas III to ask for understanding from the Taiwanese government.

De Lima noted that Taiwan later on withdrew its protest.