(Eagle News) — Resigned Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Thursday, June 7, said the Supreme Court decision that denied with finality detained Senator Leila de Lima’s plea for the arrest warrant issued against her to be nullified only shows that her case was “not of political persecution” as some claimed.
“The SC’s decision on the motion for reconsideration of Senator Leila de Lima affirmed what we all knew along. Her arrest on drug charges indeed has a legal leg to stand on…,” Aguirre, who filed the drug cases against De Lima when he was justice secretary, said in a statement.
The cases stem from her alleged role in the illegal drug trading in the New Bilibid Prison when she herself was justice secretary.
According to Aguirre, “with the SC decision, we have proven that this case is one of rightful prosecution…”
As such, “we should all accord the greatest respect and full obedience to this decision of the Supreme Court,” Aguirre said.
“Obedience becomes more imperative with the SC’s tenor of finality in its ruling. Let this serve as a warning to all who deal in drugs and who profit from it. The Duterte Administration is serious as it is relentless,” he added.
In junking De Lima’s appeal of the High Court’s October 2017 ruling that affirmed her arrest, the SC said no new arguments were raised.
“No further pleadings will be entertained,” the SC said.
