Munti court ordered to speed up De Lima case
THE Office of the Court Administrator has instructed the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court, which is handling the last illegal drugs charge against former senator Leila de Lima, to resolve the case within nine months.
Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva issued a memorandum dated April 28, 2023, which was subsequently received by Branch 256 on May 4, 2023.
As a result of this directive, Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura has ordered the prosecution to conclude its presentation of evidence on June 5, 19, and 26, 2023.
The memorandum from the Office of the Court Administrator emphasized the need for the Regional Trial Court to give priority to this case, as it has already been undergoing trial for six years.
“In view of this, the Panel of Prosecutors is hereby instructed to finalize and conclude its presentation of evidence on June 5, 19, and 26, 2023, all at 2:00 in the afternoon, as previously scheduled,” stated the Regional Trial Court.
Branch 256 recently denied de Lima’s request to be allowed to post bail.
The charges against de Lima were filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), accusing her of involvement in the illegal drug trade during her time as justice secretary under the Aquino administration. She is currently held at the Philippine National Police – Custodial Center.
De Lima faces accusations, alongside former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu and her nephew Jose Adrian Dera, of conspiring to engage in illegal drug trading within the New Bilibid Prison, before Branch 256.
