Prosecution witnesses to be presented at De Lima hearing in Muntinlupa on June 13


Detained Senator Leila de Lima will attend a bail hearing in one of her drug cases in Muntinlupa on June 13.

The prosecution is scheduled to present witnesses including convicts Jojo Baligad and Herbert Colanggo before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256, which handles case 17-167.

Senator Leila de Lima at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice (Contributed photo)

In the last hearing, prosecution witness and prisoner Joel Capones, on cross examination, denied personally knowing and transacting with De Lima and Ronnie Dayan, her former aide.

Under the case, De Lima, former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Wilfredo Elli, Jaybee Sebastian (now deceased), Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez and Jose Adrian Dera are charged with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged that between March 2013 to May 2015, they used inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa to sell and trade dangerous drugs using mobile phones and other electronic devices, and allegedly getting the proceeds amounting to P70 million.

Three cases of illegal drug trading were filed by the DOJ against De Lima in February 2017, which were later changed to conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.

One of the three cases was dismissed by a Muntinlupa court in February 2021 while two are pending.

De Lima has been detained at Camp Crame for more than five years since February 2017.