Noy, ex-senators support proposal to let De Lima join sessions via teleconferencing

MANILA, Philippines — Eight former legislators expressed support for a proposal to allow detained Sen. Leila de Lima to participate in Senate sessions remotely.

In a statement released Monday, the former senators said De Lima’s incarceration "has unfortunately prevented her from fully performing her duties to participate in the legislative process."

President Benigno Aquino III, former Sens. Rene Saguisag, Wigberto “Bobby” Tañada, Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, Antonio Trillanes IV, Bam Aquino, Mar Roxas and Francisco “Kit” Tatad signed the statement.

Former legislators support efforts to allow Sen De Lima's full discharge of her duty as Senator of the country even while in detention.Among those who signed the statement are Former Pres Benigno Aquino,former Senators Trillanes, Aquino and Roxas @News5AKSYON @onenewsph pic.twitter.com/kUKfViA9go

— marie ann los banos (@maeannelosbanos) August 26, 2019

"To allow Senator De Lima the full discharge of her role and duty as a parliamentarian is to pay respect to the mandate of more than 14 million Filipinos who voted her into office in keeping with the spirit and tradition of the Philippine Senate as a collegial and deliberative body," they said. 

In July, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed a resolution seeking to allow the detained senator to participate in plenary sessions through teleconferencing, video conferencing or other forms of remote or electronic communications. 

Drilon and Lacson stressed that their colleague remains entitled to enjoy her constitutional rights even while in detention.

"We support any similar initiative to enable Senator De Lima to vote on key bills and resolutions tabled in the plenary sessions, to participate in important meetings and caucuses with her fellow senators and to personally conduct public hearings of her committee within Camp Crame in Quezon City," the former lawmakers said. 

They added: "We hope that relevant authorities will take the necessary steps, including possible adjustments in parliamentary rules and the regulations in the custodial center, with provision for necessary facilities and other appropriate arrangements, to address these matters for as long as Sen. De Lima remains in detention while a member of the Philippine Senate."

De Lima has been detained since February 24, 2017 for allegedly having a hand in the proliferation of drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice chief. She has vehemently denied the allegation, saying the charges were prompted by her criticism of the Duterte administration.

Trillanes spent part of his first term as senator in detention on coup charges and was not allowed to attend sessions. He was however allowed to hold legislative hearings at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center until he was provisionally released in 2010 while amnesty granted to him and others imolicated in mutinies against the Arroyo administration were being processed.

The government has since said the amnesty was void, effectively reviving the cases against Trillanes. — Gaea Katreena Cabico with a report from News5/Marie Ann Los Baños