(Eagle News) — Senator Leila de Lima will have to stay detained for the time being.
This was after the Supreme Court set oral arguments on her petition to March 14, without issuing an order that would stop the warrant of arrest from being implemented against her.
SC spokesperson Theodore Te said that the arguments on the senator’s petition and application for a temporary restraining order and/or status quo ante order were scheduled in the en banc session hall of the High Court at 2 p.m.
He said the SC was also directing the respondents to submit their comment to the petition “within a non-extendible period of 10 days from (Tuesday)” or until March 10.
De Lima yielded to authorities on Friday, after Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero issued a warrant for her arrest.
The warrant stems from a case filed against her in connection with her alleged role in the illegal drug trading in the New Bilibid Prison.
She is now detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.
Her co-accused, her alleged bagman Ronnie Dayan and former Bureau of Corrections officer in charge Rafael Ragos, are detained at the Muntinlupa Police and National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila, respectively.
De Lima faces two other drug-related cases in Branches 205 and 206.
(With a report from Erwin Temperante, Eagle News Service)