(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court has denied detained Senator Leila de Lima’s plea she be allowed to “appear and personally represent herself” during oral arguments on the Philippines’ announced withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.
Voting 10-2, the SC said it found “no compelling reason” for the senator, who is detained in Camp Crame over drug cases, to make the appearance and argue against the withdrawal.
For this, the SC “noted that Senator De Lima’s capacity to appear for herself must yield to the fundamental restrictions on her liberty borne by her current detention..”
“The Court also noted that Senator De Lima did not, at any time, plead circumstances or competencies exclusive to her which make her appearance, to the exclusion of her co-petitioners, imperative and indispensable,” a statement issued by the SC said.
De Lima’s co-petitioners against the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC are Senators Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, and Antonio Trillanes IV.
In any case, the High Court said “it does not appear that her and her co-petitioners’ cause would be prejudiced by another counsel appearing in her place.”
In March, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in March, citing what he said were the “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous” attacks against him and his administration by United Nations officials.Moira Encina
