De Lima won't apologize even after asylum denial

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday rejected calls for her to resign or publicly apologize following the statements of the foreign minister of the Dominican Republic denying reports that former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was seeking political asylum in the Caribbean country.

Despite the denial of Carlos Morales Troncoso, the foreign minister of the Dominican Republic, De Lima ordered the investigation of the report to proceed- especially since she confirmed receiving another tip from “a credible source” that Arroyo was planning to seek asylum in two other countries.

De Lima, however, still refused to confirm whether those two countries are Spain and Portugal.

“I can’t confirm anything yet about Spain and Portugal vis-à-vis the former president’s travel plans pending ongoing verification,” she said.

De Lima has denied liability if the information on reported plan of Arroyo to seek asylum in Dominican Republic were indeed negative.

“No way I will resign or apologize. Why should I? As I repeatedly clarified the info re: Dominican Republic did not come from me. I only confirmed receipt of such info when asked by media,” she stressed.

Malacañang said the denial of the Dominican Republic foreign minister on the reported political asylum bid of Arroyo would not affect the travel ban imposed on her by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte added the denial wasn’t cause for embarrassment.

“(It is) not true that there was international embarrassment,” Valte said.

“All this is just part of the noise being generated by the Arroyo camp to divert attention from the real issues. The secretary of justice was asked a question. She replied matter of factly that the information was unverified. She was merely doing her job,” Valte said in a statement.

During an interview last Thursday, De Lima was asked by a reporter if she received information about the alleged plan of Arroyo to seek asylum in Dominican Republic.

She answered in the affirmative and revealed that she also received the same text message from an unknown source that was received by reporters covering the department and she wanted it checked out.

She also explained she was only performing her duty as justice secretary when she moved to verify the report - be it rumor or not.

“As it turned out, BI database revealed that Ambassador Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos was in PH last Oct. 25 to 28. We don’t know yet the purpose of such recent visit. But can you blame me as Secretary of Justice in probing such info?” she pointed out.

Valte also said the denial of the report would not affect the travel ban imposed on Arroyo because an evaluation had already been made.

Valte added this could not be a basis to trust Arroyo now.

“The unverified report of the supposed asylum was not considered during the evaluation of the request,” she said.

In a related development, Dannenberg had restricted access to his Facebook account apparently after photographs of him with Arroyo came out in the media.

Since it was open to public before, members of the media managed to publish their photos, including the ones showing his personal visit to Arroyo in her Quezon City residence on Oct. 25.

De Lima had said the denial would not stop her from looking into the reason why Arroyo was using her medical condition to go abroad when local specialists had countered her claims that nobody could treat her here and that her condition was critical.

Earlier yesterday, Arroyo’s lawyer Raul Lambino continued his tirade against De Lima and the administration and went as far as calling for her resignation.

He said the official statement of the Dominican Republic official was “a solid proof that De Lima and Malacañang are peddling lies through their teeth, concocting falsehoods and perpetuating injustices to the extent of not only embarrassing the Arroyos but endangering the Philippines’ friendly relations with other countries.”

“President Noy, De Lima and the Palace lackeys have run out of reasons and sensible arguments in defending their illegal actions. They have gone mad and wild by implicating a foreign country in their obsession to humiliate and persecute the Arroyos,” Lambino said.

Lambino also reiterated their camp’s allegation that De Lima was taking advantage of the issue for political mileage.

“De Lima, who is known for her intensive desire to run for the Senate, will do everything just to get media headlines. She’s unbecoming and should resign now as Justice secretary, if there is a bit of delicadeza left in her human system,” he said.

De Lima, on the other hand, merely replied: “Not worth my while.” -With Aurea Calica