Munti court defers arraignment for De Lima’s drug trade case

Senator Leila de Lima is being escorted as she walks out of the Muntinlupa City regional trial court room following a court proceeding regarding her second drug trade case on Friday, June 30, 2017. PHOTO BY ERMA EDERA/INQUIRER 

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 has deferred the arraignment on the illegal drug trading case of Senator Leila De Lima.

Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz rescheduled the arraignment on September 15 upon the request of the government prosecutors.

The prosecutors sought more time to submit a rejoinder and additional evidence.

The senator’s camp, on the other hand withdrew their motion to quash which sought to dismiss the information for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Instead, the senator through her counsels led by former Senator Rene Saguisag will submit a new motion which sought to dismiss the case.

Saguisag said they will include in their new motion the statements made by President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet members already declaring De Lima as guilty.

“No way she could get a fair trial kung hindi titigilan ng kakadaldal nitong napaka makwentong pangulo natin (if the President will not stop at talking),” Saguisag told reporters.

“For the President, as a lawyer, to keep condemning someone in court will really persuade policemen, prosecutors, judges to tow the line, so to speak,” he added.

The case against De Lima stemmed from the complaint of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

The complaint was based on the testimonies drug convicts who were invited during the House of Representatives hearing that discussed the drug trade inside the Philippine’s biggest prison, the New Bilibid Prison.

De Lima’s co-accused in this case is Jose Adrian Dera aka JAD. JPV