Court rules De Lima illegal drug case to proceed

MANILA – The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) denied a motion for reconsideration filed by the lawyers of jailed Senator Leila de Lima and her aide, Ronnie Dayan, to quash the drug charges against them.

In a two-page order dated March 5, RTC Branch 205 Judge Liezel Aquiatan denied for lack of merit the motion for reconsideration.

“The Court stands with its omnibus order that accused De Lima and Dayan must present their evidence to prove their innocence of the crime charged,” the decision read.

Last month, the Muntinlupa court also dismissed the demurrer to evidence filed by de Lima’s counsels in an omnibus order, which also denied the grant of bail.

The charges alleged that from November 2012 to December 2012, de Lima, who was then Secretary of Justice, conspired with Dayan to use mobile phones in drug trading and receiving money to fund her senatorial campaign.

A government prosecution witness testified that de Lima received PHP1.4 million from the late high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian inside the latter’s quarters at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Inmate Joel Capones said he transacted illegal drugs upon the directive of Sebastian, who alleged he had strong connections with de Lima.

He also alleged meeting Jad Dera, who claimed he was de Lima’s nephew.

Capones testified he saw de Lima meet with Sebastian, who handed over the money to the then Cabinet official.

“Ma’am eto na po ang pera (Ma’am, here is the money),” he quoted Sebastian allegedly saying to de Lima.

Sebastian pleaded guilty to illegal drug trading inside the NBP. In his July 2020 affidavit, he also confessed that he facilitated the delivery of PHP5 million between another convicted drug lord, Peter Co, and de Lima through then Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos on two occasions — on November and December 2012.

He also implicated de Lima’s other aide, Joenel Sanchez, who allegedly asked for his help in raising funds for the 2016 senatorial elections, upon the instructions of Dayan.

Sebastian died on July 18, 2020, reportedly due to Covid-19.

The court, however, granted de Lima’s bid to junk the separate charge against her which involved co-accused Dera.

The decision stated the prosecution failed to substantiate its theory that the senator conspired with Dera in allegedly receiving money and vehicles from Co.