Gag order might prevent ‘mind-conditioning’

MANILA – The motion to issue a gag order to prohibit all parties from discussing the drug cases against Senator Leila de Lima in public would prevent “undue pressure and mind-conditioning,” Malacañang said on Saturday.

“There is nothing new with the request of the handling prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to impose a gag order on Senator Leila de Lima’s cases,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Prosecutors from the DOJ asked the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Friday to prevent all parties involved in the drug cases of the imprisoned senator to discuss its merits in public, which is in line with the sub judice rule.

De Lima, who has been accused of pocketing money collected from illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was the Justice Secretary, is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

De Lima has become a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte's war on illegal drugs. She also held frequent interviews to rebut the allegations hurdled against her.

Abella said the gag order would prevent De Lima and all concerned parties from issuing public statements regarding her case, which may affect its findings and ruling on it.

“The sub judice rule is a time-honored doctrine. Should the court grant the motion, we expect all parties to abide by it to preclude any undue pressure to the judge hearing the cases or any influence that may condition the minds of the public on the merits of the case,” he said.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said De Lima’s case needs not be heard in public because the senator would only take advantage “to besmirch the reputation of the President."

“That’s what they are doing. So they should just let the courts to hear the case. Let the judicial process run its course,” Panelo said.