Decision on De Lima's bail plea delayed

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 8) — The decision on former senator Leila de Lima's plea to post bail is on hold due to problems during the prosecution’s marking of evidence.

Boni Tacardon, De Lima's lawyer, said this was not intentional

"Kanina inayos lang namin yung konting mga discrepancy sa naging formal offer of evidence prosecution dahil inamin naman ng prosecution na sila ay nagkamali sa pagma-mark ng ilang ebidensya," said Tacardon on Monday.

[Translation: Earlier, we fixed a few discrepancies in the prosecution's formal offer of evidence as they admitted they made a mistake in marking some of the evidence.]

Once Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 rules on the formal offer of evidence, it can then tackle De Lima’s petition for bail.

"Ang formal offer of evidence ay part ng trial kung saan ang lahat ng documentary exhibits, lahat ng object evidence sa mga testimonial evidence ay pormal na sinusumite ng isang panig at pinapaliwanag sa korte kung bakit dapat ito tanggapin at i-consider bilang ebidensya," explained Tacardon.

[Translation: A formal offer of evidence is a part of the trial where all of the documentary exhibits, all the object evidence in the testimonial evidence is submitted by one side and explained to the court why it should be accepted and considered as evidence.]

De Lima is facing two drug cases before Muntinlupa courts.

It the former senator if is allowed to post bail this week, she could walk free should RTC Branch 204 clear her of drug charges on Friday.

De Lima has been in detention for more than six years, after being accused of benefitting from the illegal drug trade inside Bilibid and supposedly using the money to fund her senatorial campaign.

Branch 205 already junked her other drug case in February 2021.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/17/Muntinlupa-court-junks-1-of-3-De-Lima-drug-charges-.html