In a joint order dated June 17, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 said that allowing the senator to attend sessions at the Senate virtually is “no different” from allowing her to attend physically.
“Allowing her to do so today would be tantamount to allowing her to participate even after the state of public health emergency,” read the order.
De Lima filed an omnibus motion last June 1 to order the Philippine National Police Custodial Center to coordinate with the Senate and facilitate the system so she could join sessions via teleconferencing.
The senator argued that she is not a “convicted prisoner, that she continues to enjoy the presumption of innocence, that she has no civil interdiction, and that she fully possessed all her civil and political rights.”
However, the trial court concluded that the presumption of innocence does not carry with it the full enjoyment of civil and political rights.
In a statement, De Lima said that allowing her to attend sessions virtually will not change the fact she is imprisoned.
“Please note that there is no civil interdiction imposed on me by any court, thus, there should be no unreasonable restrictions on my rights and legitimate interests.”
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 19) – A court in Muntinlupa City has rejected the request of Senator Leila De Lima to attend Senate sessions via video call from her cell in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
