Opposition senators decry De Lima’s ‘incommunicado’ detention in Camp Crame

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate minority bloc decried the supposed “solitary confinement” of their fellow opposition lawmaker Senator Leila de Lima, who was not allowed to receive visits from her family and staff since April 25.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan wrote to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Gamboa  on May 23 and questioned why De Lima is “basically” being held under “incommunicado detention or solitary confinement.”

This, “aside from being subject to other restrictions…since the start of ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) in the whole Luzon on March 15, 2020,” the senators said.

The minority bloc stressed that the “status quo where (De Lima) is not allowed visitors and physical meetings with anyone effectively results into incommunicado detention or solitary confinement.”

They cited Article III, Section 12(2) of the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits “[s]ecret detention places, solitary, incommunicado, or other similar forms of detention.”

The senators noted that De Lima had already raised the matter to the PNP Custodial Center chief and requested the lifting of the restrictions.

However, De Lima’s request was allegedly denied “on the pretext of enforcing the Metro-wide Modified ECQ within the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.”

“This action of the PNP Custodial Center is unconstitutional, illegal, and violates a cardinal precept of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that solitary confinement and incommunicado detention are universally outlawed,” the senators’ letter further read.

The lawmakers then expressed hope that the PNP chief would take the “necessary remedial action that you may deem appropriate under the circumstances.”

When sought for a comment, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message that “visits are temporarily restricted under ECQ/MECQ as part of biosafety measures to prevent spread of (COVID-19) inside PNP camps and police stations.”

“If NCR will be placed under GCQ, restrictions will ease up as PNP frontline services may start to open to public but on a limited capacity, strictly following social distancing and contact tracing rules,” he added, referring to PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office, Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies, and the Highway Patrol Group’s Motor Vehicle Clearance Office.

De Lima has been detained over what she repeatedly said were “trumped-up” drug-related charges since February 2017.