De Lima camp to fight move to merge cases | Inquirer News

De Lima camp to fight move to merge cases

By: - Reporter / @TarraINQ
/ 04:32 AM March 05, 2017

February 21 2017 Senator Leila De Lima gestures to the media during a presconference at the Senate where she called President Rodrigo Duterte a "sociapath". De Lima was charged before the Muntinlupa RTC over her alleged involvement in the drug trade inside the Bilibid prisons on monday. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

The camp of detained Sen. Leila de Lima has vowed to fight the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) bid to bring all three drug cases against her under the judge who had ordered her arrest, saying the prosecution seemed to be “fishing” for what would best serve its interest.

Alex Padilla, one of De Lima’s lawyers, told the Inquirer on Saturday that the legal team would file a written opposition to the DOJ’s consolidation plea filed before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday.

Article continues after this advertisement

The team is also set to argue against the move in a hearing set on March 10.

FEATURED STORIES

Different set of facts

“We are against the consolidation because [the three cases have] different sets of facts and involve different parties. Besides, we are wondering why the prosecution chose to consolidate now when they themselves filed three separate criminal information at the start,” Padilla said when sought for comment.

Article continues after this advertisement

The prosecution, led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong, on Friday sought the consolidation of the three cases against De Lima under the sala of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero.

Article continues after this advertisement

Guerrero issued an arrest warrant against De Lima on Feb. 23, barely a week since the prosecution elevated three separate criminal information against the senator for her alleged drug involvement.

Article continues after this advertisement

‘Undue haste’

De Lima was arrested on Feb. 24. She is now detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Article continues after this advertisement

Her legal team has a pending petition before the Supreme Court seeking Guerrero’s inhibition for her alleged bias against De Lima, citing her “undue haste and inordinate interest” in issuing an arrest warrant against her.

“It seems they were fishing for the best judge that suits their interest, which is why they want to consolidate with the judge that issued the warrant of arrest,” Padilla said.

The three cases, all nonbailable offenses under the Dangerous Drugs Act, accuse De Lima of sale and trading of illegal drugs, aggravated by her criminal liability as a public official.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

The cases were largely based on testimonies of high-profile convicts who claimed that De Lima had profited from the illegal drug trade at  New Bilibid Prison during her time as justice secretary.

TAGS: Alex Padilla, Leila de Lima, Peter Ong, war on drugs

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.