DOJ files motion to consolidate 3 cases vs De Lima

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Justice prosecutors have filed a motion for a consolidation of the three cases filed against Sen. Leila De Lima and two others.

De Lima is facing three charges in relation to her alleged collusion with inmates and protection of the illegal drugs trade at the National Bilibid Prison in exchange for money during her time as Justice secretary of the Aquino administration.

She is accused of violating Section 5 of the Dangerous Drugs Act that prohibits the sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of illegal drugs.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court had raffled off the cases to Branches 204, 205 and 206 but the DOJ noted that the cases against De Lima arose from a similar set of facts and that there were common parties and issues.

"Thus, the three cases may be tried jointly by one branch of the Regional Trial Court in Muntinlupa City pursuant to Rule 119, Section 22, of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure," the motion read.

Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 has given the De Lima camp five days to comment on the motion for consolidation.

The prosecution is also set to file a motion to issue a gag order against parties in the case against De Lima, including Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Meanwhile, Branch 206 gave the prosecution 10 days to comment on De Lima's motion to quash the complaint against her.

The senator has been detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City since last week after the Muntinlupa court issued a warrant of arrest against her.

De Lima has maintained that the allegations against her are all lies and said that it was an honor to be jailed for speaking out against extrajudicial killings and human rights violations committed by the administration.

“There’s no truth, they’re all lies, the allegations against me, that I allegedly received drug money, allegedly coddled or protected drug suspects – these are all lies and the truth will come out at the right time,” De Lima said.

Also to be tried are her former driver and alleged bagman Ronnie Dayan and Rafael Ragos, former officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Corrections.