6TH TIME TO SPEND BIRTHDAY IN DETENTION | Only her brother kept former Sen. Leila de Lima company on her 63rd birthday on Saturday at Camp Crame, after her other visitors, including former and current officials and lawmakers, were denied entry to the camp. (Photo from Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police maintained its tough stance on detained former Sen. Leila de Lima as it barred opposition leaders, former and current lawmakers, justices, lawyers, academics, and bureaucrats from personally greeting her on her 63rd birthday on Saturday at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
A week after denying entry to five US lawmakers on Aug. 18 until they secured court orders that allowed them to see De Lima the next day, another group led by former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, was prevented from entering the PNP Custodial Center.
Also denied entry were former Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, lawyer and Constitution framer Christian Monsod and his wife, economics professor Solita Monsod, former Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, and former Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad.
Even former Senator Mar Roxas, who served as interior secretary and supervised the PNP at one time, was not granted access to De Lima, considered by international rights groups as the most prominent political detainee since the previous administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The visitors did not come as a group but some arrived at different times on Saturday morning, the Inquirer learned. The Monsods, for one, said they were about to leave their house when they were informed of the news.
Only immediate family
It was the sixth time De Lima spent her birthday in detention.
Only her brother Vicente was allowed to enter the premises. Her other brother, Vicboy, said the PNP had granted a request for immediate family members to meet De Lima on Sunday.
But as of Saturday afternoon, the PNP leadership still had no official explanation for rejecting the visit of De Lima’s guests.
According to Lagman, the group was told only that same morning the visitation request had been disapproved.
Outrageous
In a Viber message, Drilon wondered about the government’s continuing “harsh” treatment of De Lima. “She had not been convicted of any crime. And [multiple] witnesses already recanted their testimonies,” he noted.
Monsod took to Twitter to express her disgust: “It is outrageous! Too much! She’s not convicted, not allowed a phone, and now this!”
She said the group’s request for the visit was made “weeks ago” and was just “verbally disapproved” by a guard at the center’s gates.
Highly whimsical, capricious
According to Monsod, the group did not secure a court order for their Saturday visit, since one had not been required during their earlier social calls on De Lima. Even on occasions when the PNP rejected a visit, “it is not this last minute,” she said.
On her blog, Monsod wrote that a certain Lt. Col. Patrick Ramillano went to De Lima’s quarters around 9 a.m. to inform her that her friends’ visit was rejected.
Villarin called the PNP’s decision “highly whimsical and capricious.”
De Lima has been incarcerated at the police camp since February 2017, facing three counts of conspiracy to commit drug trading before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court. She was acquitted in one of the cases in February last year but her petition to post bail was denied.
Several key witnesses have recanted their earlier claims that she was involved in the drug trade at New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City during her term as justice secretary.
Physical visits at the PNP detention center were halted in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Last year, De Lima was also not allowed guests, but she welcomed her 62nd birthday with spiritual blessings from two priests at the reception area.
On. Aug. 19, a five-member US congressional delegation led by Sen. Edward Markey was able to see her after they were initially barred when her lawyers secured court orders from two Muntinlupa judges.
According to Villarin, another foreign delegation, members of the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights, was scheduled to see De Lima in the coming days, but the PNP had imposed strict requirements.
No court order required
Under the PNP’s own rules, a court order is not needed to visit persons under police custody at the camp.
Based on PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2018-027, a detainee’s legal counsel, doctor or religious minister may visit at any time of the day, while immediate family may do so under a scheduled time period.
Personnel from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) or members of nongovernmental organizations accredited by the CHR may also drop in without prior authorization.
Friends and other guests, however, are required to submit a written request at least 10 working days prior to the intended date of visit, subject to the approval of the PNP chief.
Foreigners need to submit at least two weeks in advance a letter of intent endorsed by the foreign affairs department upon issuance of a note verbale by their respective embassies, with other pertinent information.
Visitation hours are from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday.
Recorded greetings
Although they weren’t able to see De Lima, her friends sent video-recorded birthday wishes.
Others who sent video greetings were former Vice President Leni Robredo, former Sen. Francis Pangilinan, former Commission on Audit Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, former Education Secretary Armin Luistro, former Commission on Higher Education Chair Patricia Licuanan and law professor Tony La Viña.
In a birthday message read during a Zoom meeting organized by Every Woman, De Lima said each birthday spent in detention “brings me closer to my freedom and vindication.”
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