Sen. Leila de Lima regretted blocking Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204 in her “extremely urgent application” to allow her to join in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) e-rally on Saturday. De Lima, who has been imprisoned for five years, was supposed to present his senatorial program for 2022 on February 26 but was denied the ability to do any of this.

“I wasn’t asking for special treatment, hence, did not ask for permission to leave the premises of the PNP Custodial Center. Still, the court junked my motion to allow participation in COMELEC’s e-rally through videoconferencing,” she stated.

“Given my situation, I just wanted to avail of this opportunity to freely communicate my platform to the Filipino electorate.” De Lima stated.

De Lima made her request with the trial court on February 22.
The Muntinlupa RTC refused the senator’s motion on February 25 since she was still detained on drug-related charges. As a result, he will not be subjected to the same restrictions as other candidates.The Department of Justice (DOJ) only permitted Leila, a well-known opponent of President Rodrigo Duterte’s human rights record, to shoot campaign materials while imprisoned in December.

“As a bona fide and serious candidate, I just want to avail of every reasonable and lawful means under prevailing election laws and COMELEC rules and regulations to promote my re-election bid, as to compensate for my physical handicaps as a Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL),” De Lima stated.

“I therefore don’t understand the further curtailment of my rights.” De Lima added.

De Lima was initially convicted of one of the three accusations brought against her, in connection with his alleged “receipt” of money from the drug trade within the new Bilibid Prison while still Secretary of Justice.

Human Rights Watch had already urged the 2022 presidential candidates to dismiss the allegations against the senator, which Digong reportedly merely underlined in the fabricated case.