Palace: Let courts decide on hospital arrest for De Lima

Malacañang on Tuesday wished Senator Leila De Lima well after she went through medical examination for a liver condition.

"I don’t think the President wishes anyone ill as far as health issues are concerned. As I said, we want her to enjoy a long life wherever," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference.

Sanctioned by the Muntinlupa City courts handling her illegal drug trading cases, De Lima went to the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City on Monday for doctors to further examine a "mass" on her liver that was discovered by the PNP General Hospital.

A staunch critic of the Duterte administration, De Lima assured the public that there is nothing to worry about regarding her health condition and vowed to inform the public about the results of her medical check-up.

The Palace, meanwhile, left it to the courts to decide on whether De Lima should be put under hospital arrest.

"We cannot support, we cannot oppose, it’s the court that determines but we wish her well because this is now a health issue," Roque said.

De Lima is accused of conspiring with high-profile inmates to sell or trade illegal drugs inside the national penitentiary during her term as justice chief allegedly in exchange for millions of pesos supposedly for her senatorial campaign.

She has repeatedly denied the allegation.

De Lima is presently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News