Detained Sen. Leila M. de Lima asked the Supreme Court yesterday to nullify the arrest order issued against her by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court, to order her release from detention, and to stop further proceedings on the illegal drug trading charges filed by the Department of Justice.
De Lima pleaded the SC to issue a status quo ante order that would lift immediately the arrest order issued by RTC Judge Juanita Guerrero who found probable cause on her criminal liability.
She also pleaded for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order that would stop the criminal proceedings before the trial court.
Her 82-page petition is expected to be tackled in today’s full court session of the SC.
The lady senator was arrested last Friday and is now detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Her co accused, Rafael Marcos Z. Ragos – former officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Corrections and the National Bureau of Investigation – has surrendered and has been committed for detention by the trial court at the NBI in Manila.
Guerrero made the decision based on the request of special agent Redendor Valdez of the NBI Special Operations Group-Intelligence Service..
Another co-accused, De Lima’s former driver and lover Ronnie Palisoc Dayan had been arrested and detained at the Muntinlupa CityJail. (Rey G. Panaligan, Jonathan M. Hicap, and Jeffrey G. Damicog)