12-7-2023 (MANILA) The remaining drug case against former Senator Leila De Lima has been transferred to a new court in Muntinlupa after two judges recused themselves from the proceedings in recent weeks.
According to lawyer Boni Tacardon, a member of De Lima’s legal team, the third case against her will now be handled by Presiding Judge Gener Gito at Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206.
The case was assigned to Judge Gito on July 10, but no specific trial date has been announced as of yet.
Meanwhile, De Lima’s appeal for bail, which was previously denied, is still pending before the court.
The outcome of this final case has kept the former senator in detention for over seven years, despite being acquitted of two other drug charges.
In 2019, Judge Gito served as the acting presiding judge of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256, during which he granted De Lima permission to visit her ailing mother in Camarines Sur. However, he was relieved of his duties in Branch 256 a year later.
As the presiding judge of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206, Judge Gito dismissed an indirect contempt plea filed against De Lima and her legal team in 2022.
The case was reassigned following the recusal of Judge Abraham Alcantara from Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204, following a motion filed by state prosecutors. Alcantara stated that he recused himself from the proceedings in order to address any doubts about his credibility, integrity, and fairness.
Judge Romeo Buenaventura of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256 had previously granted motions for inhibition filed by De Lima’s former aides Ronnie Dayan and Joenel Sanchez, as well as former corrections official Franklin Jesus Bucayu, prompting the case to be transferred to Judge Alcantara’s court.
De Lima’s co-accused requested Judge Buenaventura’s removal from the case after discovering that he is the brother of lawyer Emmanuel Buenaventura, who supposedly served as the former counsel for the late Rep. Reynaldo Umali. Umali chaired the House of Representatives justice panel during its investigation into the alleged drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison, in which De Lima was implicated.
