Sen. Risa Hontiveros visits former senator Leila de Lima, after a foiled hostage-taking attempt at Camp Crame in Quezon City Sunday morning. (Photo from Office of Sen. Hontiveros)
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of detained former senator Leila de Lima on Sunday called for a quicker resolution of the cases filed against her, especially after a foiled hostage-taking attempt right inside her cell at a detention center in Camp Crame.
“Hinihiling namin na magkaroon na ng maagang resolusyon sa kaso ni Sen. De Lima at maiwasan ang ganitong insidente,” said Atty. Boni Tacardon in an interview over CNN Philippines.
(We are calling for an early resolution of the cases of Sen. De Lima to prevent are repeat of this incident.)
He added that they are also now studying how to strengthen security for de Lima inside the facility.
In a separate message to Inquirer.net, Tacardon said de Lima already underwent a medical check-up.
“Our staff at the custodial center said that she is okay and her BP was normal. [T]he medical check up is but a standard protocol to ensure the safety and well being of Sen. Leila,” said Tacardon.
“At the moment, the PNP (Philippine National Police) is taking her statement regarding the incident and we are waiting for her official statement on the matter,” he added.
De Lima got involved in a hostage-taking situation after three other detainees of the PNP Custodial Facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City attempted to escape.
The three, Arnel Cabintoy, Idang Susukan and Feliciano Sulayao Jr., stabbed a police officer before Cabintoy and Susukan were shot dead by another officer.
Sulayao fled towards de Lima’s cell and briefly held the former lawmaker hostage.
Members of the Special Action Force eventually gunned down Sulayao.
De Lima had been detained since February 24, 2017, for drug-related charges which her camp said were “trumped up.”
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