Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Juanita Guerrero has dismissed the motion filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) which sought the consolidation of drug cases against Senator Leila De Lima in just one court branch.
De Lima’s lawyer, Attorney Ronnie Tacurdon, says, the decision was handed down on March 30 but it is only now that they got wind of the ruling.
Tacurdon says, Guerrero’s reply to the prosecution's motion favors the defense panel.
In the ruling, the judge stated that each of the cases has a different set of accused and different incidents where crimes were allegedly committed.
Meanwhile, in the drug case filed before the sala of Muntinlupa RTC Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz, both the prosecution and the defense panels were given an extension of 10 more days to submit additional pleadings.
This is with regard to the motion to quash the charges submitted by the senator and the motion seeking the consolidation of the cases filed by the DOJ.
Corpuz has set the hearing on cases against De Lima on June 30, 2017 at 8:30 am.