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 two days after she was acquitted of the murder of a Masbate vice mayor.

(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 off 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.

“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 that I became an instrument in helping gather evidence against her. And one of those is Kerwin Espinosa and what happened in Congress.)

At Senate hearings in 2016, Espinosa testified that De Lima was part of the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice Secretary.

In April last year, he retracted his allegations against the former senator, saying that he had “no other option but to invent stories,” in fear for himself and his family. Days later, another key witness against De Lima—former Bureau of Corrections OIC Rafael Ragos—withdrew his testimony as well, saying that it was "all fiction, false, and fabricated."

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

De Lima is also detained at the same Camp Crame facility.

Cam said she told De Lima to keep her faith.

“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. 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