PNP chief offers De Lima use of PNP Custodial Center; raffle of drug cases seen on Monday

PNP Chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa

 

(Eagle News) – Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa is readying the PNP Custodial Center and offering this as a possible detention area for Senator Leila De Lima in case she is arrested for drug-related charges.

Dela Rosa said he is just awaiting instructions, but he is readying the detention center just in case.

“I’m just waiting for instructions from a competent court kung in case kailangan nang gamitin ang aming Crame detention center,” he said.

“For me, it’s one of the most secure detention centers sa buong Pilipinas dahil nasa loob ng Camp Crame. So I am offering that facility para naman na mabigyan siya ng complete protection dahil senador siya,” he added.

The cases filed against De Lima by the Department of Justice are expected to be raffled off on Monday, February 21. According to the clerk of court at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court where the senator’s drug cases had been filed last Friday.

 

The other political personalities currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center are former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla. They are both facing plunder charges in relation to the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF scam.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said the court judge where De Lima’s drug cases will be raffled off can immediately issue an arrest warrant if this is needed.

De Lima was charged for three counts of illegal drug trading under section 5 in relation to Section 3(jj), Section 26(b), and Section 28 of Republic Act (RA) 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, a non-bailable offense.

Those named as her co-accused are her former lover and driver Ronnie Dayan and her nephew Jose Adrian Dera, each facing two counts.
The other co-accused charged with one count each are former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Franklin Jesus Bucayu; Bucayu’s alleged bagman Wilfredo Elli; high-profile Bilibid inmate Jaybee Sebastian; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Deputy Director Rafael Ragos; and De Lima’s former aide Joenel Sanchez.

The DOJ resolution was dated February 14 and was approved by Prosecutor General Victor Sepulveda, was signed by the DOJ panel of prosecutors composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong, Assistant State Prosecutor Editha Fernandez, and Senior Assistant City Prosecutors Alexander Ramos, Leilia Llanes, and Evangeline Viudez Canobas