De Lima attends court hearing a day after hostage-taking incident

A day after an inmate at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center took her hostage, detained former Senator Leila De Lima on Monday attended the resumption of a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court hearing on her remaining drug charges.

However, de Lima's counsel Atty. Filibon Tacardon said the hearing was reset after Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos tested positive for COVID-19.

Tacardon added that De Lima was not tested as she did not show symptoms.

“Pero ‘yun nga sayang lang ang pagkakataon na matuloy na ‘yung hearing ngayon. Kumpleto na sana yung both sides. Pinagtataka lang namin nung nakapasok na kami at saka lang nilabas,” he said in an interview with the media.

(But that's the thing, it’s such a wasted opportunity. We could have continued the hearing since both sides were there. We’re just wondering why it was brought up once we were already inside.)

He said they were also unable to discuss the possibility of a home furlough for de Lima, which he earlier said her defense team was studying after the Sunday morning hostage-taking.

“Pagiisipan pa namin ulit kung paano ‘yan makakarating sa kanya pero tuloy-tuloy ‘yung aming paguusap tungkol doon,” he said.

(We are now trying to figure out how to talk to her about this. But our discussions continue.)

“Meron siyang idea na ginagawa kami pero iniintay niya ‘yung aming discussions sana. Kaya lang hindi nga natuloy because nagkagulo na kami umpisa pa lang,” he later added.

(She has an idea that we are working on something but she was waiting for the discussions. However, it did not push through because it became chaotic right at the start.)

Meanwhile, Tacardon said de Lima was doing well.

“Well, okay naman siya. Ang talagang kino-complain niya talaga sa amin ‘yung talagang may numbing pa rin sa dibdib bunga nung pagkakadiin nung pointed object sa kanya,” he said.

(Well, she is okay. What she is complaining about is the numbing on the spot on her chest where the pointed object was pressed.)

PNP Chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. previously said de Lima was taken hostage during Feliciano Sulayao Jr.'s, Arnel Cabintoy's, and Idang Susukan's escape attempt.

According to De Lima, Sulayao entered while she was praying in her detention cell and tied her arms behind her back on Sunday morning.

De Lima has been detained at Camp Crame since 2017 over drug allegations in the New Bilibid Prison. One of the three drug charges against her was junked by the Muntinlupa Court in February last year. — DVM, GMA News