/PNA
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday reiterated its compliance with human rights protocols in handling the detention of Senator Leila de Lima.
Chief Supt. Dennis Siervo, PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) head, said based on the results of the inspection of their team, de Lima is satisfied “with the present set-up of the custodial facility and treatment of the duty custodial officers.”
Siervo was reacting to statements of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) calling out the PNP for its “unfair treatment” of the detained senator.
“After our thorough inspection on Senator de Lima’s custodial facility, we can say that (CHR spokesperson) Atty. (Jacqueline) de Guia’s allegation and pronouncements against PNP is defamatory in nature. It was all false and malicious accusations,” he said in the statement.
Siervo said de Lima has a mini-library, mini-garden area, and space for physical exercises. She also has a personal staff tasked to attend to her personal necessities inside the facility.
De Lima’s custodial facility has an area of 100 square meters with a 20.9-square meter cell floor area — larger than the United Nations-recommended measurement standard of 4.7 square meters to 5.4 square meters per detainee.
De Lima has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame since February 2017 over drug trafficking charges that stemmed from the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison during her term as justice secretary.
The senator is facing charges of conspiracy to commit drug trading before the Muntinlupa trial court.
She is also standing trial for disobedience to summons before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 34
