De Lima refuses to enter plea in conspiracy to commit drug trading
MANILA, Philippines — A Muntinlupa court entered a not guilty plea, on behalf of Sen. Leila de Lima, over the charge on conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.
De Lima on Friday attended the arraignment of the drug trading case filed against her case at Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205. The senator refused to enter a plea, according the information sent by her office.
Following the Rules of Court, a plea of not guilty was entered for De Lima.
The senator is accused of having a hand in the proliferation of illegal drug trading inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice secretary.
She has repeatedly denied all allegations against her.
The Department of Justice first filed drug trading charges against her, but state prosecutors later amended the charge sheet to file a case of conspiracy to commit drug trading.
De Lima’s camp has opposed this move to amend information and said that an indictment on a different charge should merit a new investigation at the Department of Justice.
But the court allowed state prosecutors to amend the charges against her.
In the first two conspiracy to commit drug trading charges against her, De Lima likewise refused to enter a plea.
READ: De Lima refuses to enter plea in drug trial | De Lima arraigned on second drug case
De Lima was ordered arrested in February 2017 and has since been detained at the police headquarters in Quezon City. — Kristine Joy Patag
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