MANILA (UPDATED) - Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the looming arrest of Senator Leila de Lima is aimed at silencing those who are against the Duterte government.

"I denounce these acts of persecution by the Duterte administration, blatant attempt to silence the political opposition. I believe those who are responsible for this short-circuiting of the [legal] processes would be made to answer in due time," Trillanes told ANC.

He added that there was no basis for the drug cases filed against De Lima, especially since most of the testimonies came from convicted criminals.

"These are acts of persecution by the Duterte administration. To begin with, there is absolutely no basis for the case filed at all. The only basis for this case were testimonies of convicted criminals, and law students would very well know that the credibility of convicts cannot be relied on," Trillanes said.

"This should not have been admitted in the first case by any objective, any partial judicial proceedings," he added.

According to Trillanes, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Police Director Roel Obusan said they have yet to officially receive the arrest warrant order, which means they cannot arrest De Lima just yet.

He also said De Lima expressed her intention to voluntarily surrender Friday morning.

"He (Obusan) told me that he has yet to receive the arrest warrant order officially so that's why they cannot move yet. So, I asked him if it is still possible for Senator de Lima to go home so she can make the necessary preparations for her voluntary surrender tomorrow morning," Trillanes said.

"She's (De Lima) very much willing to voluntarily turn herself in tomorrow morning," he added.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party (LP), in a statement, condemned the "political persecution of brave administration critic" De Lima.

"We repeat: The Sandiganbayan, not the RTC [Regional Trial Court], has jurisdiction over the case as the alleged wrongdoings were supposedly committed when she was Justice Secretary."

The LP lawmakers claimed that the judge who issued the warrant of arrest seemed to be unfamiliar with the case.

"Ang balita namin, kararating lang ng Macau nitong judge. Ang alam namin, makapal ang motion to quash na finile sa kanyang korte. Basahin naman niya ang motion. The haste is deplorable," they said.

They also expressed fear for the life and security of De Lima.

"We fear for Sen. Leila’s life and security given what happened to Albuera Mayor Espinosa and Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo, who were both killed inside police-controlled facilities."

"This arrest is purely political vendetta and has no place in a justice system that upholds the rule of law. This is condemnable. We reiterate that an arrest based on trumped-up charges is illegal."

In a phone interview with ANC, LP President Sen. Francis Pangilinan said he will escort the embattled senator on her way home Thursday night.

De Lima earlier said she will not hide or evade her looming detention but has one wish: to spend the night with her family.
LP lawmakers also expressed fear for the life and security of De Lima.

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"We fear for Sen. Leila’s life and security given what happened to Albuera Mayor Espinosa and Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, who were both killed inside police-controlled facilities."

“She has put so many people behind bars and clearly there may be people who might want to get back at her and this may be an opportunity if there are lapses or there’s a breach in her security,” Pangilinan said.