A robe has been ordered for detained Sen. Leila de Lima in case she could participate in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, but Malacañang is opposing her physical presence in the Senate for the proceedings. “To show her that we are treating her fairly, we ordered her robe,” Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said in a radio interview on Tuesday, referring to De Lima, who is detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City. If De Lima could find a way to be present at the impeachment trial, then there would be no problem, Pimentel said. ADVERTISEMENTDe Lima, President Rodrigo Duterte’s archcritic who is facing charges of conspiracy to trade drugs, had earlier disclosed plans to petition the court for permission to take part in Sereno’s trial. Among 23 senatorsPimentel said the Senate counted De Lima as among the 23 senators who would serve as judges in the Senate impeachment court.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 06, 2018 23:26 UTC