(Eagle News)–Former President Noynoy Aquino and seven former senators have expressed support for the call of at least two senators for detained Senator Leila de Lima to be allowed to fully discharge her duties as a senator.
Apart from Aquino, those who signed the statement of support for the resolutions filed by Senators Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson were former senators Rene Saguisag, Wigberto Tañada Sr., Sergio Osmena III, Antonio Trillanes IV, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Mar Roxas and Francisco Tatad.
The statement of support was presented to the media during the launch of the “Free Leila Committee” in San Juan City, a day before De Lima’s 60th birthday.
In making the call, the group noted that De Lima had passed a number of bills even when detained over drug-related charges.
They added “to allow Senator De Lima the full discharge of her duty as a parliamentarian is to pay respect to the mandate of more than 14 million Filipinos who voted her into office in keeping with the spirit and tradition of the Philippine Senate as a collegial and deliberative body.”
“We hope that relevant authorities will take the necessary steps, including possible adjustments to parliamentary rules and regulations in the custodial center with provision for necessary facilities and other arrangements to address these matters for as long as Senator Leila de Lima remains in detention while a member of the Philippine Senate,” they said.
They said “if needed, measures should likewise be taken to secure permission from the courts to allow her to personally participate during important sessions, hearings and meetings at the Senate.”
De Lima is detained in Camp Crame.
