MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Film actress and now Congresswoman Vilma Santos came to the defense of her fellow woman legislator Senator Leila De Lima who is embroiled in controversy regarding her alleged role in the proliferation of the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was Justice Secretary.

While Santos says we all want to hear and know the truth about the allegations, she called on everyone to “consider our subjects to be humans like us and yes sa kaso nga ni Sen. de Lima, babae pa rin siya who needs respect (in the case of Senator De Lima, she’s still a woman who needs respect).”

But the congresswoman from Lipa, Batangas was silent on the disrespect that De Lima has shown towards President Duterte.

De Lima recently called Duterte a “tired, old narcissist” for his stand on reviving the death penalty in the Philippines. She, however, has not criticized her fellow senators and members of the House of Representatives who also support the restoration of the death penalty.

It seems Santos believes that respect is a one-way street, and is reserved only for women.