Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine senator and leading critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly crackdown on illegal drugs says she won’t be intimidated by a leader she called a “serial killer” after police arrested her on drug charges.

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima waits for her fellow senators prior to addressing the media after a warrant for her arrest was issued by a regional trial court Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines. The Philippine court has issued an arrest warrant on drug charges for the senator and former top human rights official who is one of the most vocal critics of President Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs. De Lima has vehemently denied the charges, which she says are part of Duterte's attempt to intimidate critics of his crackdown, which has left more than 7,000 drug suspects dead. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Leila De Lima said the accusations against her were part of an attempt by Duterte to muzzle critics of the clampdown that has left more than 7,000 suspected dealers and small-time users dead.

De Lima also questioned why the court suddenly issued the arrest order when it had been scheduled Friday to hear her petition to throw out the charges of receiving bribes from detained drug lords.

“If they think they can silence me, if they think I will no longer fight for my advocacies, especially on the truth on the daily killings and other intimidations of this Duterte regime. It’s my honor to be jailed for what I’ve been fighting for,” she said before police took her into custody at the Senate.

A police convoy, trailed by media vans, took de Lima to the main police camp, where officers took her mugshot and fingerprints before they locked her up in a detention center.

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