MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has designated a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge to take over Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 256 that handles one of Senator Leila De Lima’s drug cases.
Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta issued Administrative Order on Thursday designating Manila RTC Branch 177 Presiding Judge Grace P. Chavez-Ty as acting presiding judge of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256.
Peralta’s order came a few days after the embattled senator sent a letter to Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez requesting the appointment of a new judge because the trial of her case has been dragging.
READ: De Lima prods SC to appoint new judge on her drug case
Marquez, however, clarified that the designation of Chavez-Ty was not due to De Lima’s request.
“We were actually processing her designation na when I was informed of Sen. De Lima’s letter,” Marquez said.
“We really had to put someone there na kasi 900+ ang caseload. So her designation is full time,” he added.