De Lima seeks furlough to visit ailing mother

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Leila de Lima asked a Muntinlupa court to allow her to visit her ailing mother who may be at the brink of death.

De Lima filed a Very Urgent Motion for Furlough to ask the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to allow her to visit her 86-year-old mother, Norma de Lima, in Iriga City on August 15 or as soon as possible.

If her furlough is granted, De Lima said that it could possibly be the last time she can see her mother.

“As a daughter, she owes everything to the woman who gave her life and, in her present predicament, the only way she could show her deepest love and appreciation for her mother’s love and care over the last 60 years is to be with her in her last moments on earth,” De Lima implored the court.

The senator said that her mother was brought to Villanueva Tanchuling General Hospital in Iriga City on August 4, and was admitted for “body malaise, altered level of consciousness, hyponatremia.”

The attending doctor deemed Norma’s condition as critical and “is said to be expected to further quickly deteriorate.” It was also said that the doctors opted not to administer more drugs as Norma is “not expected to linger much longer.”

De Lima said that since her detention at the police headquarters on Feb. 24, 2017, she has only seen her mother twice: On Dec. 23, 2018, when her mother was brought to Camp Crame and last June 16, for the celebratory dinner of her son’s passing at the Bar.

De Lima has been detained in Camp Crame for almost two and a half years now. She stands accused in the government’s conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade case.

She is accused of having a hand in the proliferation of drug trade in the national penitentiary during her stint as secretary of justice, an allegation she has vehemently denied.