THE Supreme Court (SC) has denied with finality the appeal of detained Senator Leila de Lima to recall the warrant of arrest issued against her by a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court judge.
In its decision, the SC said that the basic issues raised by De Lima in her motion for reconsideration have "been passed upon by this Court and no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision."
The SC dismissed the first appeal filed by De Lima on October 10 for lack of merit.
De Lima in her petition asked the SC to nullify her indictment for drug trafficking as she alleged that Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero, the first judge who issued a warrant of arrest against her gravely abused her discretion in finding probable cause to order her arrest.
The SC, in a 9-6 vote, said Guerrero did not abuse her discretion and that the Muntinlupa RTC has jurisdiction to try the drug related cases filed against the Senator.
De Lima is accused of receiving drug payoffs from high profile inmates inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as the Secretary of the Department of Justice. (SunStar Philippines)