Three Muntinlupa regional trial courts (RTC) will hear on Friday Senator Leila de Lima’s motions asking for the dismissal of the cases filed against her by the Department of Justice (DoJ) over her alleged involvement in illegal drug trade.
Judge Juanita Guerrero of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204, Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 and Judge Patricia Manalastas-De Leon of RTC Branch 206 will hear De Lima’s motions to quash and judicial determination of probable cause on Friday.
Guerrero is handling case 17-165 against De Lima, former National Bureau of Investigation deputy director Rafael Ragos and Ronnie Dayan, the senator’s former driver and boyfriend.
Corpuz is handling case 17-166 against De Lima and Jose Adrian Dera.
De Leon is hearing case 17-167 against her, Dera, Dayan, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Wilfredo Elli, Joenel Sanchez and prisoner Jaybee Nino Sebastian.
Complainants in all three cases accused De Lima and seven others of violating Section 5 in relation to Sections 3, 26, and 28 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or Republic Act 9165, regarding the proliferation of illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa when the lady solon was still the justice secretary.
De Lima asked the courts to hold in abeyance the issuance of any warrant of arrest pending the resolution on the issue of jurisdiction.
She earlier said the Office of the Ombudsman, not the Muntinlupa courts, has jurisdiction over the cases.
(Jonathan Hicap)