De Lima appeals SC decision vs her participation in ICC petition oral arguments

(Eagle News) — Detained Senator Leila de Lima has asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision denying her request she be allowed to participate in debates on the petition against the Philippines’ announced withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.

In her motion for reconsideration, De Lima said she was only asking she be allowed to travel from Camp Crame, where she is detained on drug charges, to the SC in Manila and vice versa, for the arguments.

She said she was not asking that she be granted bail.

“All she is asking for is that where the exercise of a civil right can be granted to a detention prisoner who has not yet been meted out the penalty civil interdiction by final judgment,” she said.

She also cited Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio’s dissent to the SC majority decision against her participation in the oral arguments, saying there were times high-ranking officials charged with plunder, a non-bailable offense, had been given furloughs.

Voting 10-2, the SC on Aug. 7 said it did not find “any compelling reason” for De Lima to personally appear during the conduct of the oral arguments on the petition she and several opposition senators filed.

“The Court also noted that Senator De Lima did not, at any time, plead circumstances or competencies exclusive to her which make her appearance, to the exclusion of her co-petitioners, imperative and indispensable,” SC spokesperson Theodore Te said. Meanne Corvera