De Lima drug case set back anew as judge opts for early retirement
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 17 May 2019 06:30:32 +0000
DETAINED Sen. Leila de Lima suffered another setback in the disposition of her drug cases when the presiding judge opted for early retirement, a statement from the senator’s office said on Friday.
Judge Amelia Fabros-Corpuz of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256, who is handling the trial for conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading against de Lima, former Corrections chief Franklin Bucayu, Joenel Sanchez, Ronnie Dayan, Wilfredo Elli, prisoner Jaybee Nino Sebastian and Jose Adrian Derawill, will be retiring in June.
A hearing scheduled on June 5 has been deferred.
Fabros-Corpuz is the second de Lima judge to retire. The first was Judge Patria Manalastas-De Leon of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 who left in February 2018.
A total of six judges who presided over de Lima’s cases either retired or have inhibited themselves.
In January 2018, Judge Juanita Guerrero of Branch 204, who first ordered the arrest of de Lima in 2017, inhibited from the senator’s case after downgrading the charges filed against de Lima — from illegal drug trading to conspiracy to trade illegal drugs.
Branch 276 Judge Antonietta Pablo-Medina, who presided over the re-raffle of the case, also inhibited herself, saying she was a classmate of de Lima.
Judge Myra Bayot-Quiambao of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 203 also inhibited herself, saying that she had a close relationship with a member of the prosecution panel.
Last November, Judge Lorna Navarro-Domingo of Branch 206 also inhibited herself from the case after De Lima’s camp filed for a motion for her inhibition. NEIL JAYSON N. SERVALLOS
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