De Lima slams rumors she is Mancao's mistress

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima criticized what she called as a "demolition job" against her after it was implied that she was a mistress of former police officer Cezar Mancao II, the DOJ's key witness in the double murder case against fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson. Speaking to reporters, De Lima said someone must be behind the so-called smear campaign against her. The rumors started circulating after a certain Teresa Irene Abas filed a complaint against Mancao for his alleged violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act. Abas claimed he and Mancao had an affair but that Mancao left her for another woman. Abas did not name the other woman but De Lima said "any thinking person would not immediately point to me as the alleged other woman." De Lima added: "It's difficult to imagine that. Unless she (Abas) is a nut case who is doing this on her own without someone else backing her. I think someone is behind her and that can be just the start of a possible demolition job," said De Lima. She then gave a stern warning to her detractors: "Ito lang masasabi ko sa kanila, huwag nila akong susubukan. Huwag nila akong susubukan kasi ginagawa ko lang ang trabaho ko. This is just a thankless job na ang dami mong sacrifices and then with all of these challenges babatuhin ka ng ganyan ka-foul. It’s rubbish!" – VVP, GMA News