STATEMENT OF SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA ON THE APPLICATION OF CLEMENCY OF THE WITNESSES AT THE HOUSE PROBE

I'm asked about my reaction to the information that convicted felons, who appeared and testified against me during the so-called "probe" conducted by the House of Representatives, are applying or are being considered for grant of executive clemency.

I note that, according to the copy of the letter from the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) on which the information seems to be based,[1] it would appear that the applications of some, if not all, of the inmates listed therein, were already pending even before they testified before the House of Representatives. With that context in mind, there doesn't seem to be anything necessarily suspicious about their applications.

However, I certainly hope that the possible grant of these applications for executive clemency aren't being peddled as a form of bayad-utang or incentive for testifying against me.

If that should turn out to be the case, though, I doubt anyone would be surprised. I certainly am not.

After everything we've seen and heard, what would be so surprising about executive clemency being exchanged for false testimonies against me? I, whom the President apparently hates with a vengeance? I would not be surprised if "immunity" was just the down-payment for telling lies under oath, and participating in such a kangaroo probe revolving around my alleged sex life and the absolutely absurd claim that I am involved in the drug trade,

But the Office of the President would have to be collectively insane to actually go through with it. It can't be that stupid. It can't possibly think that the Filipino people wouldn't recognize a devil's bargain or a meeting of criminal minds when they see it.

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[1] Annex "A" hereof.