MANILA, Philippines — A Muntinlupa regional trial court (RTC) granted yesterday detained Sen. Leila de Lima’s request for furlough so she can vote in the May 13 elections.
De Lima’s lawyer Boni Tacardon said Judge Amelia Fabros Corpuz of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256 gave the senator the go-signal to vote under “escorted detainee voting system” as the Department of Justice did not oppose it.
Tacardon said they filed an urgent motion for furlough after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) rejected their request to establish a special polling place at the Philippine National Police custodial center where De Lima is detained on illegal drug charges.
The Comelec cited Section 155 of the Omnibus Code, which states that no polling place shall be located within the perimeter of/or inside a military or police camp or reservations.
In a three-page motion, De Lima’s camp said the poll body instead recommended that they ask the court to allow her to vote under the “escorted voting system” of the Comelec.
Tacardon said the same motion was filed yesterday before Judge Liezel Aquiatan of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 where De Lima is also facing drug-related charges.
He said Aquiatan has yet to resolve their motion but that they remain confident of getting the same response.
Tacardon said the DOJ also did not oppose the same motion they filed before Aquiatan.