The Department of Justice (DOJ) leaves it to the Muntinlupa City regional trial court (RTC) on how to resolve the illegal drugs charges against detained former Sen. Leila M. de Lima.
In a statement, the DOJ said: “Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla declared that the matter is already within the jurisdiction of the Muntinlupa trial court, which has the sole power and authority to act on the pending case against former Senator De Lima.”
The DOJ issued the statement after Minority Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution that urged the DOJ to drop the drug charges against De Lima.
Among other things, the Pimentel and Hontiveros said: “Without question, her continued detention is one of the grossest injustices ever committed to a sitting Senator.”
De Lima has been detained at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City since 2017.
She is facing drug charges under Criminal Case Nos. 17-165 and 17-167 over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drugs trading at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
“Based on records, Rafael Z. Ragos (the former National Bureau of Investigation deputy director and Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge) has not been presented by the defense as a witness before the Muntinlupa Court,” the DOJ said.
Ragos had earlier recanted his testimonies against De Lima.
“Hence, the Department will rely on the sound discretion of the court on the appreciation of this alleged evidence,” it said.