By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
Another Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court judge has inhibited from one of the drug cases filed against Senator Leila de Lima.
Branch 203 Judge Myra Quiambao cited her close relationship with a prosecutor, Leila Llanes, in making the move.
She said Llanes–who is “like family” to her–was her classmate in law school.
The judge was also the godparent for baptism and confirmation of the prosecutor’s two children.
“In fact, when (my) husband State Prosecutor Nolibien Quimbao died last February 2017, SA City Prosecutor Llanes was with (me) at the hospital and throughout (my) bereavement, to date,” Quiambao said.
The case has been forwarded to the Office of the Clerk of Court for the re-raffle.
De Lima’s case had been re-raffled to Quiambao after Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero also inhibited herself.
Guerrero made the move after De Lima’s camp expressed doubts about her objectivity following the orders the judge made that were adverse to the senator.
De Lima is facing several drug cases for her alleged role in the proliferation of drugs in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary.