Manila: Former Senator Leila de Lima on Monday rejected comparisons to slain democracy icon Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., after Vice President Sara Duterte warned her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, of possible arrest should he return to the Philippines. In a Facebook post, de Lima said Aquino ‘returned to the Philippines knowing it could cost him his life,’ calling his sacrifice an act of courage for ‘the nation, for democracy, for the Filipino people.’

According to Philippines News Agency, de Lima criticized Duterte’s current situation, describing it as a “drama” and a “desperate attempt to escape accountability.” She emphasized that justice is not influenced by melodrama but by truth, asserting that history will acknowledge the difference.

De Lima’s post was a direct response to comments made by Vice President Sara Duterte during a meet-and-greet event with Filipino supporters in The Hague, Netherlands. During the event, the younger Duterte mentioned that she warned her father that his wish to return home might lead to his demise, drawing parallels to Ninoy Aquino’s fate.

The former president is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was arrested by the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol and local police on March 11, 2025.