Roque on De Lima’s wish to participate in Sereno impeachment trial: Nood na lang siya ng TV

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday rebuffed detained Senator Leila de Lima's plan to ask the courts to allow her to participate in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

"My advice to her: libreng mangarap. Manood na lang siya ng TV kung meron siyang TV sa kulungan," Roque said at a press briefing in Malacañang.

De Lima's plan came ahead of the House justice committee's vote this week on whether there is probable cause to elevate the impeachment complaint filed against Sereno by lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon to the Senate, which is mandated to rule on whether there is basis to remove her from office.

The senator is currently detained in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on allegations that she allowed the illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was Justice secretary in exchange for funds for her senatorial campaign in 2016.

De Lima, a critic of the Duterte administration, has repeatedly denied the accusation.

Since her detention on February 24 last year, De Lima has contended that her status as an elected official should limit her prosecution to the jurisdiction of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

However, the Supreme Court denied last October her petition to nullify her arrest and ruled that drug cases fall under the jurisdiction of the regional trial court.

The SC has yet to rule on De Lima’s bid for legislative furlough so she can perform her official duties as a senator. —KBK, GMA News