2 lawmakers denied entry at De Lima jail cell

TWO members of the House of Representatives’ opposition bloc on Tuesday failed to enter the detention facility of Senator Leila De Lima.

Akbayan Representative Tom Villarin and Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat, both part of Magnificent 7, a group critical of the Duterte administration, were accompanying the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights when they tried to enter Camp Crame.

According to the two lawmakers, they already sent a letter to Philippine National Police last September 6 indicating their supposed visit.

This is not the first time De Lima’s guests were denied entry to her detention facility.

Last July 22, Liberal International president Juli Minoves was barred from seeing De Lima for allegedly failing to notify the police ahead of his visit.

De Lima has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center inside Camp Crame since February 24 for allegedly conniving with Bilibid drug lords during her stint as Justice Secretary under the Aquino Administration.

She was accused of using her supposed kickbacks to fund her senatorial bid.

However, the senator has denied all allegations and said the charges against her were trumped up to serve as punishment for criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte and his policies. SunStar Philippines