Opposition Senator Leila de Lima will face three women judges in cases involving three drug-related charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against her, the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has said.
De Lima is facing 3 criminal complaints for allegedly violating Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which penalizes the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of illegal drugs,” reported Rappler
Each judge will decide whether there is probable cause to issue an arrest warrant against De Lima, the report said.
RTC Branch 204, under Judge Juantina Guerrero, will handle the case against De Lima, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, and De Lima’s former driver Ronnie Dayan (Criminal Case Number 17-165), it added.
RTC Branch 205, under Judge Amelia Fabros Corpuz, will reportedly handle Criminal Case Number 17-166, involving De Lima and her nephew Jad de Vera.
Criminal Case Number 17-167 will be handled by the RTC Branch 206, with Judge Patria Manalastas de Leon presiding. Respondents for this case include De Lima, former BuCor chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Bucayu’s former staff Wilfredo Elli, inmate Jaybee Sebastian, Dayan, De Lima’s former security aide Joenel Sanchez, and De Lima’s nephew Jad de Vera, said the news portal.
De Lima has immediately filed motions before the three branches, questioning the RTC’s jurisdiction.
Dante Jimenez, chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), which was one of the complainants in drug cases filed before the DOJ, reportedly went to the Muntinlupa RTC on Monday to observe the raffling of cases.
“We’re happy about this development. Despite some people’s opposition, we must follow the rule of law,” Jimenez was quoted as saying.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III reportedly said that law enforcers had been briefed about Senate rules should the warrant of arrest be served against De Lima while she’s inside the Senate.
“We go back to basic principles: no arrest during session, no arrest inside the Senate premises. But definitely, with the proper coordination with OSAA (Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms), it can be done immediately outside the premises,” Rappler quoted Pimentel as saying.
