Muntinlupa court denies de Lima bid to join Senate sessions

June 19, 2020

The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court has turned down the appeal of opposition Senator Leila de Lima from joining Senate sessions and hearings through teleconferencing while she is detained for illegal drug charges.

In a joint order dated June 17, one of the judges handling the criminal cases against De Lima denied the senator's motion for "lack of merit."

Judge Liezel Aquia Tan said De Lima has been "accomplishing legislative results," such as filing bills and resolutions and being the chairperson or a member of Senate committees.

De Lima claimed before the lower court that the Supreme Court has recognized that a legislator's detention does not preclude them from performing their duty while detained.

De Lima also cited Senate Resolution No. 372 as allowing members of the Senate to participate in hearings via teleconferencing.

Tan stressed that the amendment in Senate rules, made in response to the COVID-19 emergency, allows teleconferencing hearings "when there is force majeure or occurrence of an emergency which may prevent the senators from physically attending the committee meetings or hearings."

"De Lima is prevented to attend the committee meeting or hearings due to her detention. Detention is not a force majeure," the judge said.

De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Quezon City for more than three years on charges of involvement in the illegal drug trade in the New Bilipid Prison when she was secretary of justice.

De Lima has denied the allegations. DMS