SC junks de Lima petition
MANILA — Sen. Leila de Lima will remain in detention for the foreseeable future as the Supreme Court yesterday junked for lack of merit her petition challenging the legality of her arrest.
The SC, voting 9-6, dismissed de Lima's petition seeking the nullification of her arrest and a halt order on the criminal proceedings against her at the Muntinlupa Trial Court.
The senator had argued that the Sandiganbayan, not the Department of Justice, holds jurisdiction over the drug raps against her because of her salary grade as Justice secretary at that time that she was allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.
Over the official Twitter account of the SC Public Information Office, the high court announced that five justices submitted their concurring opinions while six issued dissenting opinions.
De Lima sought the high court for the nullification of her arrest warrant issued by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204. She has also asked the SC to issue a halt order on the proceedings against her.
The decision was penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., whom de Lima earlier asked to inhibit from the case because of an alleged conflict of interest.
De Lima argued that Velasco was the lone dissenter in the affirmation of the case of German Agojo, one of the witnesses against her. She said that there would be a conflict of interest should Velasco participate in the ruling.
But Velasco "vehemently" denied issues raised by de Lima in her motion, the Supreme Court PIO earlier said.
Those who voted to junk the petition are Associate Justices, Teresita De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano Del Castillo, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes, and Alexander Gesmundo.