A DELEGATION of US lawmakers yesterday went to the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame but was not allowed to interact with former senator Leila de Lima in the absence of a court order permitting the visit.
“They were not allowed (to see De Lima) because they have no court order… We have a process to follow,” said PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba. Asked what the delegation should do to be able to speak with the former senator, Fajardo said: “They need to have a permission from the court. Remember that we cannot bring PUPCs (persons under police custody) outside (of jails) without the appropriate court order.”
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP had to “respect judicial processes.”
“They were allowed to check and see the condition of the detention facility. (But) outside of that, they need to have court order if they wish to interview any PUPC for that matter,” said Fajardo.
The camp of De Lima and the Department of Justice have yet to issue statements reacting to the incident as of press time.
Aside from the absence of a court order, Fajardo also said the PNP has been limiting visits to the PNP Custodial Center due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the facility.
PNP data show there are currently 15 active cases at Camp Crame.
Fajardo said the American lawmakers were properly informed about why they were not allowed to interact with De Lima.
“We explained to them it will be in violation of security protocols and judicial protocols and processes if they talk and interview persons under custody of the PNP,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said the delegation, led by Sen. Edward Markey, said the main purpose of their visit was to check the detention facilities in the country, not only in Camp Crame.
The group, Fajardo said, also checked the jail facilities under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology after visiting the PNP Custodial Center.
Markey’s delegation has been calling for the release of De Lima and has previously expressed their intention to visit De Lima.
De Lima has been detained since February 2017 on drug-related charges, which she has already denied. She had decried that she was a victim of persecution by the Duterte administration for opposing former president Duterte’s war on drugs.