But with ‘limitations’

A MUNTINLUPA CITY court on Friday allowed a group of American lawmakers to visit detained ex-senator Leila M. de Lima at the maximum security Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, subject to a number of “limitations”, including no news coverage, be it mainstream or social media.

Judge Romeo S. Buenaventura granted the instant motion filed by the camp of de Lima, praying that the US (United States) congressional delegates in her list be allowed to visit her inside her Camp Crame cell from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday. The prosecution aired no objection to the motion.

However, the Muntinlupa judge said the visit would be conducted according to visitation guidelines under PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2018-027.

It also ruled that the accused must refrain from making comments or speeches that directly or indirectly have reference to any matter pending before the court.

The PNP Headquarters Support Service, headed by Colonel Mark D. Pespes, was also ordered to submit its report on the action taken within five days.

The visitors on Thursday were barred from entering the prison facility without a court order. The PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2018-027 states that “a foreigner national who wishes to visit a PUPC (Person under Protective Custody) shall submit a letter of intent to the Chief, PNP at least two weeks in advance. The letter of intent must be endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs [DFA] upon note Verbale from the concerned Embassy.”

It also says that “the request shall include the purpose, itinerary, basic biographical information and a cop of valid IDs/passport (colored copy).”

The court ruled that the US Congressional delegation led by Senator Edward Markey must strictly observe the safety and health protocols implemented in the PNP Custodial Center, and no media or any form of online or social platform coverage shall be allowed during the visit.

The PNP leadership said that apart from exercising caution in the wake of the continuing threats posed by the COVID-19 virus, they must stick with existing government rules on a prison visit.

PNP Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba issued the statement in the wake of the “controversy” generated by the move of the American lawmakers to visit de Lima in Camp Crame by a group of American lawmakers led by Sen. Edward Markey.

On Thursday morning, the foreign delegation was barred from entering the maximum security Camp Crame prison compound since they lacked an order from the court authorizing them to visit de Lima and interview her.

“The PNP will extend utmost courtesy and assistance to a foreign delegation from the US Senate that will check on the conditions at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, consistent with existing guidelines and procedures on visitorial privileges in the detention facility,” he said.

The PNP Headquarters Support Service (PNP-HSS), PNP-PIO Chief Alba said, is, in fact, “prepared to present a briefing for the visiting delegation.”

“However, such accommodation excludes direct interaction with any Person Under Police Custody confined in the detention facility, particularly PUPC committed by the Court to PNP custody,” Alba said.

“Such interaction with any specific PUPC is subject to [the] express permission of the concerned judicial authorities, with due consideration of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in Camp Crame that currently has 15 active cases and one new case as of today [Aug. 18, 2022],” he added.

The PNP-HSS also said that based on Camp Crame Rules and Regulations, Manual of Operations 2021, “interview of [a] detainee whose case/s is/are already in court—When the case/s of a detainee is/are already filed in court, all interviews must have prior approval by the court and done in the manner prescribed therein.”