Allow Senate hearings of De Lima’s committee inside Crame – Sotto

MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III has officially asked Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde to allow the conduct of hearings of the committee chaired by detained Sen. Leila De Lima inside the police's custodial center.

In a report by The STAR, Sotto requested Albayalde to “allow detained Sen. De Lima to exercise her functions as an elected senator of the country through the conduct of hearings on pending measures referred to the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development... inside the premises of the PNP Custodial Center.”

This, according to the Senate president, is to allow De Lima to execute her duties as committee chair and personally preside over hearings.

On June 28, Sotto visited De Lima and vowed to help her execute her functions as a sitting lawmaker while she remains in detention.

Sotto cited the case of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who was detained for years inside Camp Crame due to coup charges against him. Trillanes was elected as senator in 2007 while he was still in detention.

“This request is being made so as the relevant measures that are currently pending in the Committee will be given an opportunity to be heard and be deliberated on by the Philippine Senate, consistent with Section 24 of the Senate Rules,” Sotto added.

The Senate president cited the pending bills that need to be tackled by the committee on social justice, welfare and rural development are Public Solicitation Act; National Rotary Day, February 23 of every year; Magna [sic] Carta of the Poor; Magna Carta of Day Care Workers; Emergency Volunteer Protection Act; Social Welfare and Development Agencies Act; and Rural Employment Assistance Program Act.

He said that the pending measures before the committee chaired by De Lima, if passed into law, “will be beneficial to all Filipinos in general and will give the marginalized sectors their needed boost.”

“The timely holding of a Committee hearing is vital,” Sotto added.

The Senate president also assured that PNP's internal rules and regulations would be strictly followed by the Senate contingents, and coordination shall be made prior to the hearing.

De Lima has been detained inside Camp Crame since February 2017.

She is being accused of having a hand in the proliferation of the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as justice secretary. She has denied all allegations against her.