Senate President Koko Pimentel is reminding policemen who will enforce the expected arrest order for Senator Leila de Lima to respect the Senate.
The possibility of the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant looms this week following the raffle of the three drug-related cases filed by the Department of Justice against De Lima on Monday afternoon.
Pimentel intends to talk with De Lima to find out her next legal moves.
He said, De Lima has not yet sought the help of the Senate leadership.
Pimentel is only asking police officers who will fetch De Lima, that if this scenario will take place in the Senate, they must move with utmost respect to the legislative chamber.
This means that cops must perform proper notices and coordination with the Senate leadership and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
“Yung mga law enforcers na magse-serve ng warrant of arrest must respect the Senate as an institution (those law enforcers who will serve the warrant of arrest must respect the Senate as an institution),” Pimentel said.
The Senate President noted, De Lima seems to have accepted what might happen to her.
“Si Senadora, responsible public officer. Kung valid yan, hindi nya pahihirapan ang mga law enforcer (the senator is a responsible public officer. If the arrest warrant is valid, she won’t give law enforcers a difficult time),” Pimentel added.
The three charges against De Lima for alleged violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act were raffled off at 1 pm at Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The cases will be handled separately by three judges, namely judges Juanita Guerrero (Branch 204), Amelia Fabros-Corpuz (Branch 205) and Patria Manalastas-De Leon (Branch 206).
