De Lima lands in Bicol to visit ailing mother

MANILA, Philippines – Detained Senator Leila de Lima left the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City early Thursday morning after a court allowed her to visit her ailing mother in Iriga City.

Ferdie Maglalang, chief media officer of De Lima’s office, said the senator left Manila at around 4:30 a.m. and arrived in Legazpi City on a commercial flight at 6a.m.

“She will travel to Iriga to meet her ailing mom at their ancestral house,” Maglalang said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

On Wednesday, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court granted detained De Lima’s petition to visit her ailing mother.

In two separate orders, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branches 205 and 256 gave De Lima 48 hours, including travel time from Aug. 14 to 15 to see her mother

READ: Court allows De Lima to visit ailing mother

READ: Duterte won’t object on De Lima plea to visit ailing mother

De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained at the PNP Headquarters since 2017 on drug-related charges.

She is expected to return to the custodial center on Aug. 16. /gsg