The Philippine National Police (PNP) will not allow US Senator Edward Markey and other foreign lawmakers to interact with former Sen. Leila de Lima if they visit the police’s Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The only way Markey and other US lawmakers would be allowed to talk with De Lima is if they secure permission from judicial authorities, particularly the courts handling their cases, according to Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, chief of the PNP-Public Information Office.
He said the PNP Headquarters Support Service is always prepared to present a briefing for the visiting delegation.
“The PNP will extend utmost courtesy and assistance to a foreign delegation from the US Senate that will check on the conditions at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, consistent with existing guidelines and procedures on visitorial privileges in the detention facility,” said Alba.
“However, such accommodation excludes direct interaction with any Person Under Police Custody (PUPC) confined in the detention facility, particularly PUPC committed by the Court to PNP custody,” he added.
The US lawmakers were reported to have expressed their intention to visit De Lima who has been detained at Camp Crame for over 2,000 days now.
De Lima is facing drug charges but some of the convicted drug lords who initially pinned her down in the cases have already recanted their statement.
Alba said the strict implementation of visiting rules is necessary due to the recent increase in the number of Covid cases in the country.
In fact, he said there were some inmates at the Custodial Center who tested positive for Covid-19.
Based on the PNP data, there are 15 active cases at Camp Crame.