The two new Supreme Court (SC) associate judges appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte are joining the deliberations next week on the case of Senator Leila De Lima.
The high tribunal is set to hold an oral argument on the petition filed by the senator on March 14 (Tuesday) at 2 pm.
De Lima had asked the SC to void the warrant of arrest issued by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Judge Juanita Guerrero that resulted in her arrest and detention at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
De Lima is also asking the magistrates to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the lower courts from hearing the drug charges filed by the Department of Justice.
Newly-appointed Associate Justices Samuel Martires and Noel Tijam will take part in the deliberations.
Martires has taken his oath before President Rodrigo Duterte, while SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco administered the oath for Tijam yesterday.