THE Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all parties to submit pertinent records of the drug trafficking cases against Senator Leila de Lima from all three branches of government.
In a resolution, the SC ordered parties to submit not only the records of the case in the Muntinlupa City regional trial court but also the resolution of the Department of Justice as well as reports of the committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison.
The high court also sought the pertinent affidavits of witnesses and pleadings earlier filed by De Lima in the DOJ and the transcript of stenographic notes of the hearings in the Senate and Congress.
The SC also required parties to submit the petition filed by the senator before the Court of Appeals after the issue of forum shopping and premature filing of petition in the SC was raised during oral arguments last Tuesday.
The high tribunal also ordered the camp of De Lima to submit as annex to her petition a “comprehensive compilation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s attacks against petitioner” in support of her claim that she was being politically persecuted for being the number one critic of the President.
“The foregoing documents shall be submitted to the Court not later than the Court’s office hours on March 17, 2017, Friday,” read the three-page notice signed by Clerk of Court lawyer Felipa Anama.
The high court issued the order to be able to extensively resolve the petition of De Lima seeking to stop her indictment for allegedly benefitting from drug money in violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act).
During the hearing last Tuesday, justices grilled lawyers of De Lima led by former solicitor general Florin Hilbay on procedural and substantive issues.
Several magistrates hinted that De Lima could have engaged in forum shopping with the multiple actions simultaneously taken by her camp before the Muntinlupa regional trial court, CA and the high court.
They also tackled the issue of whether the drug case falls under the jurisdiction of the RTC or the Sandiganbayan.
The SC oral arguments will continue next Tuesday, March 21, for the presentation of the government’s side by Solicitor General Jose Calida.