There is a big possibility that Sen. Leila M. de Lima will share the same detention compound with two former senators she helped jailed three years ago once she gets arrested.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa yesterday offered the maximum detention facility inside Camp Crame in Quezon City to ensure De Lima’s safety.
“I am just waiting for instructions from the competent coach just in case they need the Custodial Center,” said Dela Rosa.
Detained inside the same compound are former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla who were charged with plunder in connection with the “pork barrel” fund scandal.
The cells occupied by Estrada and Revilla were supposed to be the quarters intended for the officers manning the Custodial Center.
A third cell was intended for then Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who was detained at the PNP General Hospital and was later allowed to post bail.
“I think for me, that is one of the most secured detention centers in the entire country because it is inside Camp Crame,” said Dela Rosa. “So I am offering that facility in order to give her the protection because she is a senator.”
On Friday, De Lima, a former Justice Secretary, was slapped with three counts of criminal charges before a Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court in connection with her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa.
De Lima said she expects to be arrested as early as Monday and expressed fears that she might end up the same fate of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. who was killed inside his cell at the Leyte Sub-provincial Jail in Baybay City by police operatives.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party slammed the possible issuance of arrest warrant against De Lima, their partymate, maintaining that the filing of the case before the RTC is illegal.
“The Sandiganbayan, not the RTC, has jurisdiction over the case as the alleged wrongdoings were supposedly committed when she was justice secretary,” the LP said in a statement.
“We reiterate that an arrest based on trumped-up charges is illegal. Furthermore, Sen. De Lima was not able to file her counter-affidavit so we question whatever the ruling the Department of Justice issued without hearing her side of the story,” the statement added. (AARON B. RECUENCO)