Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — After the inhibition of two judges, the remaining drug case of former Senator Leila de Lima has been re-raffled to a new judge.
De Lima’s lawyer, Boni Tacardon, on Wednesday said Judge Gener Gito of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 will be the new judge. He is the third judge to handle the case in less than a month.
Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara, who acquitted de Lima in her second drug case, inhibited on July 6 upon the request of state prosecutors.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier said the prosecution asked the judge to inhibit to get a new perspective on the evidence.
DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said the inhibition will not cause any delay in the hearing of the case since the new judge will only have to start where Alcantara left off.
Romeo Buenaventura, the first judge, voluntarily inhibited himself from the case after three individuals who were accused alongside De Lima questioned his impartiality.
He inhibited on June 15 after Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez, and Franklin Bucayu filed motions for his inhibition for failing to disclose that he is the brother of Atty. Emmanuel Buenaventura, who previously assisted Dayan in the execution of his affidavit which the accused later said was coerced.
De Lima, who has repeatedly maintained her innocence, has been detained since 2017 for allegedly allowing the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary.
She was also accused of financing her 2016 senatorial campaign using drug money from inmates.
