Hontiveros calls for Senate recommendation to drop de Lima charges

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday urged the Senate to recommend that the drug charges against Senator Leila de Lima be dropped.

"If the Senate as a body can recommend the filing of charges against individuals and personalities that violate the laws of these land, surely, it can recommend the dropping of charges against those who are victimized by these laws and those who need the law and the Constitution’s protective mantle," Hontiveros said in a privilege speech.

"A few days after we commemorated the 6th anniversary of her detention, I say, Mr. President, dear colleagues, and I hope you say with me-- free Leila now," she added.

In her speech, the opposition lawmaker pointed out four key witnesses who had testified against de Lima - Kerwin Espinosa, former Bureau of Correction chief Rafael Ragos, Ronnie Dayan, and Marcelo Adorco - had retracted their statements. 

Hontiveros also said that the recent Supreme Court decision granting former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile Chief of Staff Gigi Reyes' writ of habeas corpus petition also benefitted de Lima.

The SC decision stated that Reyes' continued detention had "become oppressive thus infringing upon her right to liberty."

Furthermore, “[w]hile the writ is generally not available to a person whose liberty is under the custody of an officer under process issued by a court or judge when such custody becomes vexatious, capricious, and oppressive amounting to an infringement on the constitutional right to speedy trial of an accused, the writ of habeas corpus may be provisionally availed of.”

Pointing to this decision, Hontiveros said that the right to a speedy trial was actionable as it was a right afforded to all citizens and a right that de Lima could legitimately avail.

"This is not about being in the opposition. This is not about the past or present administrations. This is simply the invocation of a human right that all Filipinos are entitled to," Hontiveros argued.

In January, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said de Lima was a "candidate beneficiary" of the Supreme Court decision.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he would not object to a possible bail plea from de Lima after urging them to file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame since February 2017 over allegations that she benefited from the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was Justice Secretary.

She has repeatedly denied the allegation.

In her sixth year in detention, De Lima said she strongly believed that her vindication is at hand.

The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 205 had junked one of the three drug cases against De Lima.

The hearings for the two remaining cases are ongoing. — DVM, GMA Integrated News