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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Muntinlupa courts allow De Lima to have video call with ailing mom

Muntinlupa courts allow De Lima to have video call with ailing mom

Published Feb 3, 2022 07:41 pm

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima was able to have an online video conference call on Feb. 3 with her ailing mother who is in critical condition after testing positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after two Muntinlupa courts granted her “extremely urgent” motions.

Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 and Presiding Judge Abharam Joseph Alcantara of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 issued orders on Feb. 3 allowing the senator to have an online video conference call with her 89-year-old mother Norma Magistrado de Lima.

Sen. Leila de Lima is escorted by the police after attending a hearing at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice in 2019. (Jonathan Hicap)

“In view thereof, for humanitarian reasons and considering the urgency of the matter, the instant motion is hereby granted. Accordingly, accused De Lima is hereby allowed to see her mother, Norma Magistrado De Lima today via online video conference call,” according to Buenaventura.

He added, “Afterwards, the jail escorts shall immediately return accused De Lima to her detention facility. The Jail Warden of the Custodial Service Unit. PNP Custodial Center (PNPCC) is hereby directed to ensure that existing health protocols and security and escorting procedures are complied with at all times, and that no media or any other form of online communication other than the conference call granted in this Order shall be allowed at any time during the furlough, and to submit to this Court a written report on the action taken within five (5) days from compliance.”

In his order, Alcantara wrote, “In view of the extreme urgency and time constraints and for humanitarian reasons, the Extremely Urgent Motion for Online Video Conference Call filed bv accused De Lima is granted. Consequently, accused De Lima is allowed to see her ailing mother, Mrs. Norma Magistrado De Lima through online video conference call at her own expense and equipment and for a reasonable length of time.”

De Lima filed “extremely urgent” motions with the Muntinlupa courts, which are handling her cases for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading that were filed by the Department of Justice in 2017.

Her mother tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 10 and was admitted to the Villanueva-Tanchuling Maternity and General Hospital in Iriga City on Jan. 22.

But on Feb. 1, Mrs. De Lima’s “vital signs, including her pulse rate and oxygen saturation levels, were observed to be in decline.” She was transferred to the NICC Doctors Hospital in Naga City on Feb. 2.

Since her detention in 2017, De Lima said she had only seen her mother three times including in August 2019 when a Muntinlupa court granted her “very urgent motion for furlough to visit her mother in the family residence at Iriga City during a critical illness.”

Sen. De Lima was informed that her “mother is continuing to experience labored breathing, and is in and out of consciousness. Given the positive COVID-19 tests previously administered, in addition to Mrs. De Lima’s advanced age and overall declining health, it is extremely urgent that Accused De Lima be given the opportunity to see her mother, even through online video conferencing, without further delay, preferably within the day,” according to the motion.

“Accused De Lima appeals to the utmost kind consideration of the Honorable Court, as a daughter who wants to be able to see her mother during this critical time,” the motion added.

Related Tags

Muntinlupa Leila de Lima Muntinlupa RTC
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