(Eagle News) — The lawyer of Senator Leila De Lima has disclosed that she would be detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center which was initially offered to De Lima by PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.
Noted human rights lawyer Alexander Padilla said he was assured that the PNP Custodial Center would be a safe detention cell for his client.
“Maganda naman daw ang quarters. Ina-assure naman kami ng mga awtoridad sa PNP na secure iyon,” he said.
Padilla told reporters where De Lima would be detained after meeting inside the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court branch 204 which issued the arrest warrant for De Lima.
He said that the court-issued commitment order indicated that De Lima would be detained at the said PNP Custodial Center.
Padilla also noted that security personnel from the Senate would also be posted at the PNP Custodial Center to ensure the safety of the senator.
Earlier, De Lima had expressed apprehension for her safety, and rejected the initial offer of Dela Rosa for her to be detained at the Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
If detained in the PNP Custodial Center building, she would be with two other fellow senators, namely Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy Estrada, against whom the DOJ under her watch filed charges for plunder before the Ombudsman in September 2013 in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Another senator charged then was Juan Ponce Enrile.
The Ombudsman then filed the plunder charges against Revilla, Estrada and Enrile before the Sandiganbayan in June 2014.
The detention cell being prepared for De Lima already had new beddings, according to the PNP.
“We are preparing the space,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Tuesday.
De Lima appeared to be defiant after her arrest this Friday morning, and even claimed that it would be an “honor” for her to be jailed. She vowed to continue to oppose President Duterte.
Prior to this, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II advised De Lima not to be choosy as she can very well be detained at the Muntinlupa City jail if the court would deem it so.
