Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Prosecutors asked the Muntinlupa judge who ordered the arrest of Senator Leila de Lima to try her drug cases.
“Record shows that the cases arose from similar set of facts; there are common parties and issues; and interrelated evidence will be presented in court,” stated the motion, which was filed before Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero on Friday.
The Justice Department filed three separate drug cases against the senator, which were raffled off to Muntinlupa RTC branches 204, 205, and 206 last February 20.
The prosecution said the three separate cases all refer to De Lima’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trading inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was Justice Secretary.
The prosecutor said the motion for consolidation was filed for practicality to “avoid unnecessary costs and to prevent the issuance of conflicting resolutions, orders and decisions.”
The prosecutors asked the three cases to be consolidated by Judge Guerrero, who they said handles the lowest docket number.
Guerrero gave De Lima’s camp 10 days to submit a comment on the prosecution’s motion.
If the motion is granted, the three drug cases will be tried as one under Judge Guerrero. She is the same judge who ordered De Lima’s arrest last February 24.
De Lima’s legal counsel opposed the move of prosecution to consolidate all three cases.
“We oppose kasi we feel they want Judge Guerrero to hear the case. We know it was Judge Guerrero issued the warrant of arrest against Sen. De Lima,” lawyer Lorelei Granado said.
The prosecution also manifested before Branch 204 for Judge Guerrero to order the parties to refrain from discussing the merits of cases.
De Lima, who is detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, also has a pending petition before the Supreme Court questioning her arrest.
In a petition on February 27, the senator said Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Judge Juanita Guerrero committed grave abuse of discretion when she ordered De Lima’s arrest.
The high court will conduct oral arguments on De Lima’s petition on March 14.
Branch 206 Judge Patria Manalastas-De Leon gave the lawyers of the accused five days to comment on the motion for consolidation.
Meanwhile, De Leon gave prosecutors 10 days to reply to De Lima’s motion to quash, after which the senator and six other co-accused are given 10 days to reply.
De Lima, in her motion, argued there is no allegation — much less proof from the records — that would show that she participated in the criminal activities of the high-profile inmates inside the New Bilibid Prison.
CNN Philippines correspondent Anjo Alimario, senior digital producer Lara Tan contributed to this report.
