MANILA – Detained senator Leila de Lima asked a Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court judge – who scrapped her demurrer to evidence plea in one of her illegal drug case – to inhibit.
According to the senator, she lost her faith to Judge Liezel Aquiatan of Branch 205 to render impartial justice after the latter ignored her plea to be acquitted without presenting defense in one of her illegal drug case involving former driver and bodyguard Ronnie Dayan.
“She already ignored all the pieces of evidence favoring accused de Lima. What can now assure the defense that she will all of a sudden open her mind and be receptive once she continues handling the case?” de Lima’s motion stated.
“Why did the Honorable Presiding Judge fail to consider the entire evidence in this case? What prevented the Honorable Presiding Judge from doing so? Perhaps the Honorable Presiding Judge is truly biased against Sen. de Lima? Maybe she is afraid for her own safety and that of her family? She may perhaps also have other motivations?” it added.
De Lima’s case was about the alleged P10 million in proceeds of illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison “delivered” to her – when she was secretary of the Department of Justice – by Rafael Ragos, former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge.
According to Ragos, the money was allegedly used in de Lima’s senatorial campaign.
De Lima repeatedly denied the accusations and insisted she did not receive the money.
Aside from the case under Aquitan’s sala, the senator has a pending illegal drug trade case before the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256./PN
