(Eagle News) — Senate President Tito Sotto has asked Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde to allow Senator Leila de Lima to conduct hearings inside the PNP Custodial Center, where she is detained on drug charges.
In seeking for the same, Sotto said it was “vital” for De Lima to hold the hearings as there were “relevant measures” currently pending in the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development which she chairs.
If the Public Solicitation Act, National Rotary Day, Magna Carta of the Poor, Magna Carta of Daycare Workers, Emergency Volunteer Protection Act, Social Welfare and Development Agencies Act, and the Rural Employment Assistance Program Act were passed into law, he said it will be “beneficial to all Filipinos in general and will give the marginalized sectors their needed boost.”
“As the Senate President, I am giving Sen. De Lima full authority to discharge her duties as chair of the committee, particularly to conduct and personally preside over its hearings,” he said, noting that this would be “similar to what (was) done by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV during his detention,” if any.
According to Sotto, if the request was granted, the Senate contingent “shall abide by the internal rules and regulations of your institution and the necessary coordination shall be made prior to the scheduled hearing for an orderly conduct of the same,” he said.
De Lima is facing drug cases in connection with her alleged role in the illegal drug trading in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary.
