De Lima to appeal bail denial

MANILA, Philippines — The legal team of detained former senator Leila de Lima will file a motion for reconsideration after a Muntinlupa court dismissed her petition for bail on Wednesday.

Judge Romeo Buenaventura of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 256 junked De Lima’s bail plea, stating that the defense’s arguments on her health and age are “not compelling.”

“We did not expect this decision,” De Lima’s lawyers said yesterday. “We are hoping that with the motion, the court would see our position that the testimonies of convicted criminals, especially those who have ill motives against her, should not be admitted or trusted.”

De Lima described the denial of her bail application “most unfortunate.”

“My lawyers will be filing a motion to raise the issue on the credibility of the convicted witnesses and their testimonies anew, with the hope that the judge is not yet closed to the perspective that their word, uncorroborated as they are by more acceptable evidence, is utterly unreliable,” De Lima said.

In dismissing De Lima’s bail petition, the judge noted that there were “inconsistencies and contradictions presented by the defense… to the mind of the court do not relate to material points, thus, do not destroy the credibility of the witnesses.”

Rights group Karapatan has renewed its call for the immediate release from detention of De Lima.

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said De Lima is one of the human rights defenders and leaders of the political opposition persecuted during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. – Emmanuel Tupas