Muntinlupa court allows De Lima to vote

MANILA, Philippines —The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) has allowed detained Senator Leila de Lima to vote in the upcoming elections.

“She is hereby allowed to exercise her right to suffrage under the Comelec’s (Commission on Elections) Escorted Detainee Voting System,” Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 Judge Liezel A. Aquiatan said in an order made public Tuesday.

The court said her furlough will be between 12 noon to 2 in the afternoon of May 13, 2019.

The court added that the Senator “shall bear all the necessary costs and expenses for her transport from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame Quezon City to her precinct polling place in Precinct No. 0648A, located at Santa Rita School, Parañaque City, Metro Manila pursuant to the escorted detainee voting system.”

The court also reminded the Senator that she is barred from giving interviews before and after she casts her vote.

Aquiatan said De Lima is still allowed to vote because she has not been convicted of any offense.

The court said De Lima “can vote in a  specially designated polling place inside jails or escorted to vote elsewhere if the registration record is not transferred, deactivated cancelled or deleted.”

De Lima is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center. She has been allowed to go out and vote because under the law, polling place within the perimeter of or inside military or police camps are prohibited.

The prosecution did not object to De Lima’s request.

De Lima is facing cases for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act in three branches of Muntinlupa court.  /muf