De Lima refuses to enter plea in drug trial

MANILA, Philippines — After more than a year in detention, Sen. Leila de Lima was arraigned yesterday on the charge of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading.

De Lima refused to enter a plea, prompting Judge Lorna Navarro-Domingo of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 to enter a plea of not guilty for the senator.

“I do not recognize the legitimacy and the validity of the charges against me,” De Lima said.

Also pleading not guilty were former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu and De Lima’s former aides Ronnie Dayan and Joenel Sanchez.

 The charge is based on allegations made by convicted drug lord Jaybee Sebastian that De Lima, during her term as justice secretary received P70 million from drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison to fund her senatorial campaign.

Among the pieces of evidence the prosecution would present are affidavits from Sebastian and convicts Herbert Colanggo and Peter Co.

The prosecution also listed more than 50 witnesses who will be presented from Sept. 4 this year to Oct. 22, 2019.

The defense would present around 20 witnesses, including De Lima and the other accused, between Oct. 29, 2019 and Feb. 11, 2020.