Reelectionist Senator Leila de Lima attended on Monday, April 25, a hearing in a Muntinlupa court for one of the two remaining drug cases filed against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2017.
“Laban lang,” said De Lima at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice. The hearing was held at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256, which is handling case 17-167, accusing her of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.
De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, maintained that all the cases file by the DOJ are trumped-up illegal drug charges, which were filed after she was elected senator in 2016.
Prisoner Joel Capones, a prosecution witness, was supposed to continue his testimony but failed to appear in court.
According to Atty. Rolly Francis Peoro, De Lima's legal counsel, the Muntinlupa court reset the hearing after the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) said they could not physically present Capones because of what they claimed as "high-risk security concerns.”
De Lima's panel insisted that as part of the senator’s constitutional rights, it was critical that they are able to observe the demeanor of the witness to assess the truthfulness of his testimony and avoid miscarriage of justice.
One of the three drug cases filed against her was dismissed by a Muntinlupa court on Feb. 17, 2021. The two other cases are pending in Muntinlupa courts. The next hearing will be on May 30.
De Lima is running for reelection under the ticket of presidential candidate Leni Robredo and vice presidential bet Francis Pangilinan.