De Lima arraignment deferred as prosecutors ask to amend charge

MANILA, Philippines —  The arraignment of detained Sen. Leila De Lima in one of her drug cases was reset as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the senator's camp filed fresh pleadings on Friday.

State prosecutors, led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong, filed a motion to amend the information (charge sheet) before the sala of Judge Patria Manalastas-De Leon of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206.

The state prosecutors asked the court to change De Lima's charge from illegal drug trading to conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

De Lima's camp, meanwhile, filed a fresh Motion for Reconsideration on the issued arrest warrant against her.

Manalastas-De Leon gave the two parties 15 days to comment on the pleadings.

On November 15, the branch issued an arrest warrant against De Lima and her co-accused former Bureau of Corrections Director Franklin Bucayu, inmate Jaybee Sebastian, Wilfredo Elli, a certain Jose Dera, and De Lima's former aides and alleged bagmen, Joenel Sanchez and Ronnie Dayan.

They are accused of having been in cahoots in allowing the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary when De Lima was Justice secretary.

The court has yet to set a date for De Lima's arraignment.

De Lima is also facing drug charges before the Muntinlupa RTC Branches 204 and 205. She was also initially charged for drug trading before the two salas, but the state prosecutors filed separate motions to amend the charge sheet to instead indict De Lima for conspiracy.

On October 10, the Supreme Court voted 9-6 to junk De Lima's petition seeking to nullify her arrest.

But De Lima's team, led by former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, filed a motion for reconsideration on November 3.

READ: Citing differing SC opinions, De Lima asks for reconsideration