Junking de Lima’s bail plea negates SC order in settling her case — Lagman

PURSUING JUSTICE | Under heavy guard, former senator Leila de Lima arrives at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to attend a hearing set for one of her two remaining cases then on January 27, 2023. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines —  Rejecting former senator Leila de Lima’s bail petition translates to going past the timeframe prescribed by Supreme Court (SC) court administrator Raul Villanueva, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman recalled.

The lawmaker on Friday remembered Villanueva had previously ordered Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) to have a verdict on de Lima’s case within nine months from June 2023.

“If former Sen. Leila de Lima is not granted bail, she remains incarcerated for another nine months, the period within which Supreme Court judicial administrator Raul Villanueva ordered the Muntinlupa RTC trying the last case against de Lima, to render judgment,” Lagman counted.

“The additional nine months would extend the imprisonment of de Lima without conviction to seven years and two weeks or a total of 2,569 harsh and unjust days,” he explained.

READ: Leila de Lima drug case: Muntinlupa court ordered to expedite trial

De Lima’s petition for bail was recently denied.

She is now waiting for the court’s resolution of her third and final case.

“It behooves the High Court, upon De Lima’s petition, to grant her bail with judicious alacrity while she waits the adjudication of her last remaining case,” said Lagman.

A total of three illegal drug cases were filed against the former secretary of justice.

She had been acquitted in two of the charges.

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