The Department of Justice (DOJ) will submit to the Senate a report on the status of the illegal drug cases pending in court against detained former Senator and former Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.
“We will submit to Senator Angara a status report on these cases,” DOJ spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said in a text message to reporters.
“The prosecutors in charge have already finished their presentation of evidence and it is now former Sen. De Lima’s turn to present her evidence. We will submit ASAP (as soon as possible),” the DOJ official said.
Clavano made the assurance in response to the request made by Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara who sought a status report on the cases.
Angara asked DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla for a report during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Wednesday, August 17.
De Lima has been detained since 2017 at the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at its headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Non-bailable charges have been filed against her before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court (RTC) under Criminal Case Nos. 17-165 and 17-167 over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drugs trading at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“It is up to the court to decide,” Remulla said, in response to calls from various sectors to release De Lima.
