‘Slug it out’ in court, Guevarra dares De Lima

MANILA, Philippines — “Slug it out,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said challenging Sen. Leila De Lima to avail of all legal remedies to prove that her case was just a form of political persecution.

De Lima has been detained since February 2017 at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center. She is facing illegal drug charges in three regional trial courts in Muntinlupa.

US Senators have called on De Lima’s immediate release. But, Guevarra said she cannot be released because she is currently facing trial.

The detained Senator has quested her indictment that went up to the Supreme Court. A staunch critic of Duterte, the Senator and her supporters believe that she was being persecuted for her stand against the government.

“If you believe that the charges against you are not true then slug it out, fight it out, file a demurrer to evidence. If you want to file a petition for bail, so there are so many legal remedies available to her,” Guevarra told de Lima.

“If that is her position, why has not she applied for bail Why is it that other people, even foreigners will be asking for her freedom now, temporary or permanently. But she herself has not applied for bail. So what could be the reason for that? We can only guess about the possible reasons. It’s up to you to think why she hasn’t filed a petition for bail,” he added.

Guevarra said the US government should exercise “some prudence and circumspection.”

“I’m talking about the US State Department. They will realize that where is the wrongful imprisonment, wrongful detention here? Everything was followed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines,” he added.

/atm