A Muntinlupa court allowed reelectionist Sen. Leila de Lima to be photographed in her detention facility in Camp Crame so she can complete the requirements for her candidacy.
In an order dated Oct. 1, Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 granted De Lima’s urgent motion for her photo to be taken at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.
“In view thereof, the Urgent Motion is hereby granted. Accused De Lima is hereby allowed to be photographed inside the PNP Custodial Center for purposes of her official Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) and Certificate of Candidacy (COC), and confer with her listed counsels (as recorded in the Lawyers Masterlist on file at the PNP Custodial Center) who are duly commissioned as Notary Public to notarize the aforementioned and other related documents at the earliest possible time, and as may be practicable, but not later than October 5, 2021,” the judge wrote in the decision.
De Lima earlier declared that she will seek reelection in the May 9, 2022 polls under the Liberal Party.
She won as senator for the first time in the 2016 election but was jailed in February 2017 after three drug cases were filed against her. She is currently facing two cases of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading which allegedly happened during her time as justice secretary.
The court noted that “undoubtedly, the COC is a formal requirement for one's eligibility for an elective public office. Consequently, the accused, an incumbent Senator, and who intends to run for reelection in the upcoming 2022 National Elections must prepare and secure all the required forms and documents to ensure that her application for candidacy is complete and compliant with the applicable rules and regulations.”
It ordered the jail warden of the Custodial Service Unit of the center “to allow and facilitate the picture taking of accused De Lima and notarization of her CONA and COC inside the PNP Custodial Center, and ensure at all times that existing health protocols and security and escorting procedures are observed, and that no media or any form of on-line/social platform coverage shall be allowed during the course of the furlough.”
“Upon completion of the aforesaid activities, the jail escorts shall immediately return accused De Lima to her detention facility. The Jail Warden is directed to submit to this Court a written report on the action taken within five (5) days from compliance, copy furnished the Prosecution,” the court said.