De Lima briefly out of detention to vote in Parañaque City

PHOTO from Office of Senator Leila de Lima

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Leila De Lima was temporarily allowed to go out of her detention room in Camp Crame in Quezon City and vote for the midterm elections.

Wearing blue polo shirt with her signature accessory – shawl, De Lima cast her vote at Saint Rita College in Parañaque City around noon Monday.

The senator was able to vote after a Muntinlupa City court granted her request for a furlough and be at her precinct on May 13, Election Day.

Some 100 Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial center personnel guarded De Lima, who was also accompanied to her polling place by former Commission on Elections chair Sixto Brilliantes Jr., a former colleague and friend.

De Lima’s supporters also flocked to the venue to show their support to the senator, who only took roughly six minutes to cast her vote.

PHOTO from Office of Senator Leila de Lima

De Lima did not accommodate any interviews from the media pursuant to the orders of the court.

But she indulged members of the press by showing off her index finger with indelible ink and even raising the vote counting machine receipt, which meant that her ballot and vote have been accepted by the system.

De Lima has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame since February 24, 2017 for drug-related charges, which she has repeatedly denied. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)

PHOTO from Office of Senator Leila de Lima