Sandra Cam: I was used as a tool for the imprisonment of Leila De Lima

Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Sandra Cam on Wednesday said she has apologized to detained former senator Leila de Lima for being a “tool” that contributed to her detainment.

“The realization that I was used as a tool for the imprisonment of Senator Leila De Lima. Nakita ko at naranasan ko naman ang sakit at paghihirap sa kanyang pagkakakulong,” Cam said in a press conference.

(I saw and experienced the pain and hardship of her imprisonment.)

“At humingi na ako ng kapatawaran at pagisisi sa aking pagkakamali and the restoration of our friendship is more important than politics,” she added.

(I asked for her forgiveness and expressed my regret and the restoration of our friendship is more important than politics.)

Cam, who had previously claimed she tipped authorities about self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa’s whereabouts, said she became a tool in De Lima’s detention because she supposedly helped in obtaining evidence against De Lima.

Espinosa later testified that De Lima was part of the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice Secretary.

He has since retracted his allegations against the former senator.

“But, naging tool ako in a way na naging instrumento ako sa pagkalap ng ebidensya against her. And one of those is ‘yung kay Kerwin Espinosa at saka ‘yung pag-ano sa Congress,” Cam said.

(I became a tool in a way, I became an instrument in helping gather evidence against her. And one of those is Kerwin Espinosa and what I did at Congress.)

Cam held the press conference two days after she was acquitted of murder charges over the killing of a vice mayor in Masbate in 2019.

She, along with her son Marco Martin Cam, was released from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center at 10:50 p.m. on the same day.

De Lima is also detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

Cam said she told De Lima to keep her faith before leaving the facility.

“Binigay ko sa kanya ang aking Mahal na Birhen ng Manaoag. Nagyakapan kami tapos sabi ko sa kanya, stay strong. Pareho tayong–sabi niya mas stronger ka sa akin dahil ang anak mo nakikita mo,” Cam said.

(I gave her my Our Lady of Manaoag. We hugged and I told her to stay strong. We will both– then she told me, you are stronger than me because you can see your son.)

“Pero sabi ko, just be strong. Malapit na ang ano ng Panginoon. Just keep the faith,” she added.

(But I told her, just be strong. The grace of God is near. Just keep the faith.)

Death threats

Cam also said that there have been many threats against her life.

“Actually, maraming threats sa akin [there are many threats against me],” Cam said.

The former whistleblower also said that she is offering her assistance to the Marcos administration to help other victims.

“Hindi din ako titigil ng aking tunay na adbokasiya to fight corruption and of course… itong mga pagpapalaya nga sa mga kulungan ng mga walang sala, marami,” she added. — BM, GMA Integrated News