De Lima asks courts to allow video call with sick mother

FILE PHOTO: Senator Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Senator Leila de Lima has filed extremely urgent motions before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branches 204 and 256 to allow her to hold an online video conference call with her ailing mother who is now in critical condition after contracting COVID-19.

In separate motions dated Feb. 3, De Lima, through her legal counsel, asked to be allowed to see her mother even through online means.

Her mother was admitted to a hospital in Iriga City in Camarines Sur on Jan. 22. This, after she tested positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 10, De Lima told the courts.

“However, at around 10 o’clock in the evening of 1 February 2022, Mrs. De Lima’s vital signs, including her pulse rate and oxygen saturation levels, were observed to be in decline,” the motions read.

Since the hospital in Iriga City did not have an intensive care unit facility, the senator’s mother was transferred to a hospital in Naga City on Feb. 2.

According to De Lima’s motions, the senator was only able to see her mother three times since her detention in February 2017.

“Now, Accused De Lima was informed that her long-ailing mother is continuing to experience labored breathing, and is in and out of consciousness,” the motions stated.

“Accused De Lima appeals to the utmost kind consideration of the Honorable Court, as a daughter who wants to be able to see her mother during this critical time,” they further read.

Earlier, De Lima appealed for prayers for her mother, saying she is in critical condition.

“Her cardio-pulmonary systems [are] now failing. I ask for prayers,” she wrote in an earlier dispatch from Camp Crame where she is currently detained over what she has repeatedly called  “trumped-up” drug charges against her.

/MUF