PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. will not intervene in any case that is already pending in court and will leave it up to the Muntinlupa trial court to decide on the charges filed against former senator Leila de Lima, Press Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said yesterday.
Garafil made the statement amid calls to grant De Lima furlough or free her after being held hostage on Sunday in an attempt by three convicted felons to escape from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
“Ang mga kaso po ni Leila de Lima ay nasa korte na, so hayaan na lang po natin ang mga abogado niya to make the proper motion. The President cannot and will not intervene in any case that’s already with the courts (The case of Leila de Lima is in the court, so let’s leave it to her lawyers to make the proper motion. The President cannot and will not intervene in any case that’s already with the courts),” Garafil said when asked about the furlough.
Detainees Arnel Cabintoy, Idang Susukan, and Feliciano Sulayao on Sunday held De Lima and Police Corporal Roger Agustin hostage in their attempt to escape from the PNP Custodial Center.
A standoff occurred between the police and the escaping detainees which resulted in the death of the three and the injuring of Agustin.
De Lima, a staunch critic of former President Duterte, has been in detention since 2017 after being slapped with two drug cases. She was already acquitted in one case in 2021.
