The court hearing on one of the two remaining drug cases of former senator Leila de Lima on Oct. 10 was reset at the request of the prosecution after she was tagged as a close contact of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., who tested positive for Covid-19 Sunday night.
Abalos visited De Lima at the Philippine National Police Detention Center in Camp Crame on Oct. 9 after she was taken hostage by a detainee who was a suspected member of a terrorist group.
De Lima attended the hearing at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 in case 17-167, filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against De Lima in February 2017 originally as illegal drug trading but was changed later to conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.
The case accused De Lima of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading together with former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Wilfredo Elli, Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez, Jose Adrian Dera and Jaybee Sebastian, who died in July 2020.
The former senator’s legal counsel, Boni Tacardon, told the media that the hearing was reset.
He said De Lima did not show any symptoms and was allowed by the PNP to attend the hearing.
“Sayang lang ang pagkakataon na matuloy na ‘yung hearing ngayon. Kumpleto na sana ‘yung both sides (It was a wasted opportunity for the hearing to proceed today. Both sides were complete),” he said.
De Lima made the decision to attend the hearing despite her ordeal of being taken hostage by detainee Feliciano Sulayao Jr., who was arrested by authorities in June 2019 in Quezon City for being suspected members of the Dawlah Islamiya terrorist group.
Sulayao, Arnel Cabintoy, and Idang Susukan tried to escape from the PNP Custodial Center.
Tacardon said De Lima is okay although she complained of numbing pain in her chest after Sulayao held a pointed weapon to her body. De Lima underwent medical tests.
De Lima told the police that Sulayao tied her hand behind her back and feet.
Depending on the results of additional tests, Tacardo said they may file for a medical furlough before Muntinlupa courts.
He said De Lima will stay at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame in the next five days. Tacardon said they suggested to De Lima to undergo psychological counseling based on what she narrated that “she underwent a traumatic near-death experience.”