Solicitor General Jose Calida on Thursday tagged Senator Leila de Lima as “Public Enemy No. 1.”
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Calida enumerated the cases handled by the Office of the Solicitor General including the "test case" filed by De Lima against Duterte with the Supreme Court.
"And there’s another interesting case concerning Public Enemy No. 1. And I’m referring to Senator Leila de Lima versus Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the case for the issuance of a writ of habeas data. Again, I cannot yet argue the merits because this is still sub judice," he said.
When asked why he called De Lima as the public's top enemy, Calida, in an ambush interview, pointed out that the senator allowed the proliferation of illegal drugs under her watch as the Justice Secretary during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III.
"She was a secretary of Justice. It is her duty to stop the proliferation of drugs and she allowed proliferation of drugs in her own turf, the National Penitentiary, and because of that, the ripple effect in the country. Grabe ang nangyari," he said.
"Now isn't she now the Public Enemy No. 1? She's now a senator. She is using her power to suppress investigation. She does not want to be investigated. What kind of a public official is that?" Calida added.
As for De Lima's petition against the President, the Solicitor General believes it will not prosper.
"The problem with Senator De Lima is that there is an impregnable wall. The President has absolute immunity during his term. He cannot be sued," he said.
