Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. JOAN BONDOC/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II welcomed聽on Tuesday聽the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss Sen. Leila de Lima鈥檚 plea to junk the illegal drug charges filed against her.
Aguirre said the ruling vindicated the Department of Justice鈥檚 (DOJ) position that regional trial courts (RTC) have jurisdiction on drug cases.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a correct decision. It鈥檚 the decision we have been fighting for. Tama lang (It鈥檚 just right) that our position that the RTC has jurisdiction has been vindicated,鈥� Aguirre said in a statement.
Voting 9-6, the SC en banc ruled to reject De Lima鈥檚 motion to recall her warrant of arrest issued by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court due to 鈥渓ack of merit.鈥�
Under the same petition, the senator鈥檚 prayer to dismiss the illegal drug charges filed against her was also rejected.
READ: SC junks De Lima motion to recall arrest warrant
The DOJ in February filed three criminal charges against De Lima for supposedly receiving bribes from NBP drug lords in exchange of their protection during her term as Justice secretary.
The agency also accused the senator of using the money from illegal drug trade to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign.
She was charged with three counts of violation of Section No. 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to trafficking and criminal liability of government officials.
Aguirre said that with the SC ruling, De Lima鈥檚 arraignment, scheduled聽on Friday, and trial could proceed, 鈥渁ssuming that there would be no motion to make amendment to the information.鈥� /jpv