MANILA - Senator Leila de Lima said Saturday she did not have a "sex video," adding she was hurting from personal attacks after she questioned President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs.

De Lima said her former driver, whom Duterte accused of receiving money from drug suspects as well as being her lover, was under threat.

"Masakit ang mga tungkol sa personal na buhay, nirereview na naman yang alleged sex video na yan. Hindi iyan totoo. Matagal na nila iyang nire-raise [Attacks on my personal life are painful. That alleged sex video is being raised again. It's not true. That has been raised before]," she said.

"Every time I am in the middle of something, nilalabas nila ang so-called alleged sex video na yan [that so-called sex video is always brought up]," she told reporters.

"Nakita ng staff ko na may still photo, na ginawa kunyari video. In-examine nila ang photo, hindi ako iyon. [My staff saw a still photo that was made to appear like a video. They examined the photo. That's not me]. I don't understand," she said.

De Lima said she last spoke with her former long-time driver when she was justice secretary, Ronnie Dayan, three or four weeks ago.

"May mga kakilala siyang pulis na winarningan siya, 'Lie low ka, may nagha-hunting sa iyo.' Hindi ko ulit nakausap, pero nagparating sa akin na delikado na raw [He knows some policemen who told him to lie low because he's being hunted down. I haven't talked to him again but I was told that he is in danger]," De Lima said, declining to say where her driver is.

De Lima admitted she was "close" to Dayan, but declined to elaborate on their relationship. She said Dayan started driving for her when she was a private lawyer before resigning last year.

"Napalapit siya sa akin. Paumanhin niyo po, hindi ko na po pwedeng...ayaw ko na pong mag-touch on that. Ayaw kong malihis sa mga personal na bagay [We became close. I’m sorry, I don’t want to touch on that. I don’t want focus to be diverted to personal issues]," she said.

She said said hoped the personal attacks would stop.

"Nasasaktan ang pamilya ko, at pamilya din ni Ronnie. Hiwalay siya sa asawa niya, matagal na, pero nasasaktan po ang kanyang pamilya. May mga babae din po siyang mga anak [My family and Ronnie's family are getting hurt. He has separated from his wife for a long time but his family is hurt. He has daughters, too]," she said.