SENATOR Francis Pangilinan asked Friday Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III to let Senator Leila De Lima keep her Senate security while being detained in the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.
On Wednesday night, Pimentel said the Senate security personnel assigned to De Lima were removed as they were posted far from her cell and thus "useless."
"Dapat nag-negotiate na makalapit ang OSSAA (Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms) hindi yung 50 meters away," Pangilinan said.
It was learned that the OSSAA personnel were pulled out Monday.
The Liberal Party, Pangilinan said, expressed concern for her safety under government detention, citing how Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., a drug suspect, was killed by police officers in a detention center and South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, who was kidnapped and killed inside Camp Crame.
The government accused De Lima of profiting from the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her time as justice secretary.
Pimentel said De Lima's work at the Senate continues despite her detention. (SunStar Philippines)