MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima cast her vote Monday afternoon after a Muntinlupa court allowed the detained lawmaker to exercise her right to vote
De Lima cast her vote at Sta. Rita College in Parañaque City past noon.
In a video of The STAR, the senator was seen showing her finger with indelible ink.
In an order released last week, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 allowed De Lima, who is detained over drug-related charges, to vote under the Commission on Elections’ “Escorted Detainee Voting System.”
She was ordered to vote from noon to 2:00 p.m. and not to give interviews to the media before and after she casts her vote.
Days before the May 13 polls, De Lima released the list of her preferred senatorial candidates, which bore the names of aspirants from the opposition Otso Diretso coalition.
“I'm vouching for the integrity and competence of Otso Diretso candidates and I have no doubt that with their remarkable track record and competence, they will be our strong voices and our reliable defenders in the Senate,” De Lima said. — Gaea Katreena Cabico