Muntinlupa judge inhibits from Sen. Leila de Lima’s drug case

MANILA, Philippines — Another Muntinlupa judge has inhibited from hearing the drug charges filed against detained Sen. Leila de Lima.

In a five-page order dated Nov. 5, Judge Lorna Navarro-Domingo of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 said she inhibited from handling De Lima’s case to show “good faith” to the prosecution and defense panels.

“In order to show good faith to all parties concerned and being within the discretionary of this court, the undersigned presiding judge recused herself from trying this case,” the order read. 

On Oct. 15, De Lima filed a motion seeking Domingo’s inhibition from the case because of her alleged “manifest bias, partiality and acts of prejudgment” against the senator.

De Lima cited the judge’s denial of one her motions on the same day it was filed.

The senator also alleged that Domingo violated her right to an open and public trial when the judge banned reporters from entering the courtroom to observe the proceedings.

Domingo, however, maintained that she had correctly ruled on De Lima’s petitions.

The judge also defended her restriction on access to the court’s proceedings.

“Only reporters were not allowed to cover the hearings since it would distract the parties as well as the lawyers. The court observed sub-judice rule,” she said.

Domingo said some foreigners were allowed to observe the proceedings when De Lima was arraigned along with her other co-accused. 

De Lima’s lawyer, Boni Tacardon, welcomed the decision of Domingo to inhibit from the case.

The drug charges against De Lima will be raffled off to another judge.

 Domingo is the fourth judge who inhibited from hearing De Lima’s case. The other judges were Antonietta Medina, Juanita Guerrero and Myra Bayot-Quiambao.

Domingo took over the case from Judge Patria Manalastas-de Leon, also of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206, who opted for early retirement in February. 

Three Muntinlupa courts are hearing the drug charges against De Lima, who is being held at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.