The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified the recent decision of the Court of Appeals regarding the ruling on Leila De Lima’s drug-related case.
The DOJ denied claims that the appellate court reversed the previous ruling of acquittal for former Senator and now incoming Congresswoman Leila De Lima.
According to the DOJ, they believe that nothing will change in the case, and even stated that the court’s decision of acquittal in favor of Congresswoman-elect De Lima may remain.
This was shared by Justice Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Mico Clavano in relation to the recent move made by the Court of Appeals.
Meanwhile, Clavano emphasized that former Senator Leila De Lima is not the focus of the petition filed with the Court of Appeals.
He explained that the petition for certiorari aims to compel the Regional Trial Court Branch 204 of Muntinlupa to explain why it acquitted the former senator in her drug-related case.
The court documents stated that there may have been “grave abuse of discretion” on the part of the lower court in handling the case.
Thus, Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano once again clarified that the merits of former Senator Leila De Lima’s case are not in question here; rather, the matter concerns the actions of the mentioned regional trial court.
He stressed that it is the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 that is being scrutinized and asked to explain by the Court of Appeals, as it is the entity accused of possibly committing grave abuse of discretion in handling the case.
