Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The three drug cases filed against Senator Leila De Lima may be raffled off at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday.
The Office of the Clerk of Court at the Muntinlupa RTC confirmed the cases filed by the Justice Department are set for raffling off among the judges at 1 p.m. Monday.
Muntinlupa RTC Executive Judge Juanita Guerrero is on leave, so the Vice Executive Judge will preside over the raffling of the cases.
The staff of Senator De Lima, who has said she is prepared for the “worst-case scenario” of her arrest, said they may file an omnibus motion to quash, or a legal move to dismiss the cases filed against her. But the senator’s legal counsel, Alex Padilla, said they may wait for the cases to be raffled off before they file the motion.
The Justice Department on Friday filed three drug cases against De Lima and several co-assused for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.
DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said the cases are non-bailable, and if found guilty, the penalty will be reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.
CNN Philippines correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
