Guevarra denies De Lima’s tirades
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday denied the tirade of detained Sen. Leila de Lima that the Department of Justice’s opposition to her motion to record campaign materials while under detention was “prosecutorial persecution.”
“The prosecutors of the DOJ discharge their duty professionally and without regard to the status of the accused. In any event, they will leave the matter to the sound discretion of the court,” Guevarra said in a message.
Guevarra, however, refused to comment when asked about his take if the Muntinlupa court will grant de Lima’s motion.
“.. let’s now leave it to the court to rule on the issue. We trust that the court will apply existing rules concerning persons under detention fairly and uniformly,” he continued.
De Lima is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame after she was accused of benefitting from illegal drug operations when she was justice secretary.
De Lima, former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, is seeking re-election in next year’s national elections.
De Lima recently asked the Muntinlupa City RTC to allow her to shoot photos and videos inside her detention cell for her election campaign.
But the DOJ opposed de Lima’s motion, saying the latter should not be treated differently from other accused facing drug charges.
“For this reason alone, accused De Lima cannot and must not be treated differently from any other accused. She may occupy an exalted position in society, but this does not entitle her to special treatment,” the DOJ said in a comment-opposition.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento alsp on Sunday echoed Guevarra’s statement that the DOJ was not persecuting de Lima when government prosecutors opposed her bid to make campaign materials while incarcerated.
“The prosecutors are just doing their routine job,” Malcontento said, adding the DOJ will respect whatever the Muntinlupa regional trial court’s decision on de Lima’s motion.
“We will respect what the court would say,” he said.
