Philippine court to reopen De Lima drug case to present new witness

Under heavy guard, former Sen Leila de Lima, in this Jan 27, 2023, photo, arrives at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to attend a hearing set for one of her two remaining cases. - Philippine Daily Inquirer Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/?p=1758206#ixzz7zIXcqbz1 Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): In a “sudden turnaround,” state prosecutors have asked a Muntinlupa City court to reopen one of former Sen Leila de Lima’s two remaining illegal drug cases to give them the chance to present a last-minute witness and other “rebuttal evidence” against her.

The move of the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors to request the reopening of Criminal Case No. 17-165 took De Lima’s defence counsel Filibon Tacardon by surprise, as he said both parties had already agreed to have the case submitted for decision.