MANILA – Former Senator Leila de Lima on Monday (24 Mar 2025) dismissed comparisons between herself and slain democracy icon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., after Vice President Sara Duterte warned her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, that returning to the Philippines could result in his arrest.
In a Facebook post, de Lima emphasized Aquino’s courage, noting that he returned to the Philippines despite knowing it could cost him his life, a sacrifice made for the nation and democracy.
“Duterte’s drama today is nothing but a desperate attempt to escape accountability,” de Lima wrote. “Justice isn’t swayed by melodrama, only by truth. History will always know the difference.”
De Lima’s remarks came in response to comments made by Vice President Duterte on Sunday during a meet-and-greet event in The Hague, Netherlands. She revealed that she had warned her father that his desire to return home could lead to his demise, much like Aquino’s fate.
Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, facing charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was arrested by Interpol and local police on March 11, 2025.
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