De Lima: Muntinlupa judge’s decision to recuse from case ‘a step in right direction’

Senator Leila de Lima on Tuesday called the decision of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Judge Juanita Guerrero to inhibit from her drug-related case as a “step in the right direction.”

In a statement from her detention facility, De Lima said the news of Guerrero’s inhibition is a “welcome” one.

“We do not rejoice that it became necessary to ask for the inhibition of a member of the judiciary, but circumstances, and especially the way she has thus far handled the case, have shown that it had to happen if justice has any chance of being truly and faithfully served,” De Lima said.

“We count this as a step in the right direction, but we have to remain vigilant in ensuring that constitutional and human rights are not again trampled upon. Judges, after all, are among those who ought to be at the forefront of our fight for justice,” she added.

It was Guerrero who ordered the arrest of De Lima on February 23, 2017 for the case of illegal drug trading.

De Lima remains in detention at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. She was charged for allegedly benefiting from the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her term as head of the Department of Justice.

“In order not to cast doubt on the integrity and impartiality of the Presiding Judge and to disabuse the mind of the accused and her counsels who have expressed serious doubts on her objectivity in resolving this case due to the adverse orders issued against her, the court, acting on its sound discretion, voluntarily inhibits herself from further hearing the case,” Guerrero said in her order dated January 4.

Guerrero also ordered the re-raffle of the case of De Lima, who has denied the charges against her, claiming she was a victim of political persecution by the Duterte administration. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/GMA News