Poe to De Lima: Explain why drug trade boomed during term at DOJ

Senator Leila de Lima should explain why drug problems “flourished” during her time as justice secretary, Senator Grace Poe said on Tuesday.

Poe noted that the illegal drugs proliferated not only in the New Bilibid Prisons but in other parts of the country while De Lima headed the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"Sen. De Lima is the Justice secretary when this happened, I think it is just right that she accounts for this and answer the allegations against her," Poe said in a television interview.

"A lot of these drug problems actually flourished; so at least for that particular issue, she has to be able to explain why that was so," Poe added.

De Lima was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte in the alleged illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. A congressional investigation was launched on her alleged drug ties but she rejected the invitation to attend the probe, calling it Duterte's "kangaroo court."

Espinosa and Dayan had testified that De Lima received millions for her senatorial run in the last May elections.

De Lima is also the subject of an ethics complaint filed by several House leaders.

Poe, a member of the ethics committee, vowed to be fair in handling the complaint.

She said that while it would be difficult to impose penalties on a colleague, the Senate is "accountable" to the people.

The Senate ethics committee may decide to dismiss the complaint against De Lima, or impose a penalty of admonition, suspension or expulsion.