Palace says up to court to decide on De Lima’s request for furlough

August 12, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte is not meddling with the judiciary as it would be up to the court if it would allow the request of detained opposition Senator Leila de Lima for a furlough to visit her ailing mother.

"Well, ever since the President has not interfered with any case involving anybody. He never meddled. So the discretion lies always on the court," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters on Monday.

De Lima's lawyer has asked the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to allow De Lima to visit her mother, Norma Magistrado de Lima, who was reportedly “critically ill” at a hospital in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

De Lima, an staunch critic of Duterte, is facing drug charges before the Mutinlupa court. But she denied the charges, saying she is a victim of political persecution by the Duterte administration. She has been detained at Camp Crame headquarters since February 2017.

Asked if the Palace has no objection on the decision of the Department of Justice not to oppose De Lima's request for a furlough, Panelo said it would be up to the DOJ (Department of Justice).

"We don't want to comment. The problem is if we comment, we might be misinterpreted," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS