De Lima says she's now allowed to receive limited visitors in Camp Crame

Senator Leila De Lima on Wednesday said the strict visitation policies in Camp Crame for COVID-19 prevention have already been relaxed, more than a month after she was barred from receiving any guests.

"Finally, the strict no access, no visitors policy here at the PNP Custodial Center has been relaxed, by allowing scheduled visits, on specific days a week, from family members and selected staff, lawyers, personal doctors and spiritual advisers, all in limited numbers and limited time slots," De Lima said in a statement.

"While far from ideal, I can live with this interim set-up. Good enough, in keeping with the avowed objective of ensuring the good health and safety of the persons deprived of liberty and custodial personnel while the COVID-19 pandemic rages on," she added.

The detained senator said she hopes for further expansion of the restored visitation rights soon. She also thanked those who expressed concern for her in the past weeks.

Last Friday, her lawyer Chel Diokno, spiritual adviser Fr. Flavie Villanueva, and chief of staff Fhillip Sawali attempted to visit her but were not allowed to do so as PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said restrictions are still in effect.

De Lima's camp said the last time they were allowed to see the detained senator personally was on April 25, 2020.

Her fellow minority senators also wrote a letter to PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa on May 23 and pointed out that the said treatment can be considered "incommunicado detention or solitary confinement" which is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution. —LDF, GMA News