THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to ask the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) to reverse its ruling that denied the prosecution's motion to consolidate the three separate drug cases filed against detained Senator Leila de Lima over her alleged illegal drug ties.
In a comment to the lower court's ruling, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II through Undersecretary Erickson Balmes, said that DOJ will soon file a motion for reconsideration.
"As per SOJ, while we respect the court, we will file a motion for reconsideration of its decision," Balmes said.
Muntinlupa RTC branch 204 judge Juanita Guerrero recently junked the DOJ's motion to consolidate the three drug cases filed against De Lima for her alleged participation in the narco trading in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her stint as justice secretary.
In a resolution dated March 30, Guerrero said she found no merit to hear the cases in a single court as they involved different incidents.
The judge also said consolidating de Lima's cases would prolong the trial, contrary to DOJ's claim that this would be more practical and would prevent the issuance of conflicting resolutions.
The DOJ in a resolution dated February 14 indicted De Lima and seven others for violating Section 5 in relation to Section 26 (B) and Section 28 (criminal liability of government officials and employees) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The information against the eight accused were raffled off to Muntinlupa RTC branches 204 (Juanita Guerrero) 205 (Amelia Fabros-Corpuz) and 206 (Patrcia Manalastas-de Leon) on February 17.
De Lima, who is now in her detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center, was arrested following branch 204 judge Guerrero's issuance of the arrest order dated February 23.
The court also ordered the arrest of De Lima's co-accused Ronnie Dayan and former Bureau of Corrections Officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos. Both accused are now accounted for.
Guerrero's "immediate" issuance of the order amid De Lima's pending motion to quash the cases for lack of jurisdiction had prompted the senator to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.
The SC, which conducted oral arguments on De Lima's case has yet to rule on the senator's petition seeking the nullification of the arrest order issued by Guerrero for lack of jurisdiction and grave abuse of discretion. (SunStar Philippines)