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De Lima seeks to join Senate sessions – even from behind bars

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/05/01/050117_delima.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">A policewoman guards Philippine Senator Leila De Lima as she gestures a sign that means &quot;Laban&quot; (Fight) sign after appearing at a court on drug related charges in Muntinlupa, February 24, 2017. <cite>Erik De Castro, Reuters</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> - Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Monday asserted her right to participate in the deliberations of legislative measures and attend Senate functions, even through electronic means.</p><p>&quot;I have work to do as a senator and I will continue to do so because I owe it to the more than 14 million Filipino people who voted me in office and represent them in the Senate,&quot; De Lima said in a statement, a day before Congress ends its Lenten recess. </p><p>&quot;I have an electoral mandate to fulfill and it is my right to attend and participate in the proceedings in the Senate,&quot; she added. </p><p>De Lima&#x27;s allies in the Senate also visited her on Monday to discuss how she could participate in the Senate debates on the death penalty.</p><p>Senators Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan and Antonio Trillanes IV sought De Lima&#x27;s views on pending bills in the Senate.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1454592" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><address style="text-align:center">Video courtesy of Henry Atuelan, DZMM</address><p>&quot;We also decided that in critical matters like &#x27;pag dumating &#x27;yung death penalty bill sa Senado, hilingin namin na mapagbigyan si Sen. De Lima na makapag-attend ng aming session at committee hearing so she can express her views and participate in the deliberations because she is a duly-elected senator and therefore she has every right in the proceedings in the Senate,&quot; Drilon told reporters in an interview.</p><p>De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Quezon City since February for her alleged involvement in the New Bilibid Prison&#x27;s illegal drug trade. </p><p>While in detention, De Lima has filed resolutions and bills. She also remained the chairperson of the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation. </p><p>The senator said her legal team is studying legal options for her to be allowed to join her colleagues in deliberating on important measures, such as the revival of death penalty, lowering the criminal age of responsibility, and the postponement of barangay elections. </p><p>“Apart from my rights as a duly-elected senator, I have to invoke my rights as a political prisoner as provided and protected under Philippine laws and jurisprudence as well as the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights,” she said.</p><p>De Lima noted that in the 1950s, then Senator Justiniano Montano was charged with the non-bailable offense of multiple murders but was allowed to post bail to perform his senatorial duties.</p><p>She added that sometime in 2008, the Senate under the leadership of then Senate President Aquilino Pimentel allowed then detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to participate in Senate proceedings through teleconferencing. </p>

<p>MANILA (UPDATED) - Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Monday asserted her right to participate in the deliberations of legislative measures and attend Senate functions, even through electronic means. </p><p> </p>

MANILA (UPDATED) - Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Monday asserted her right to participate in the deliberations of legislative measures and attend Senate functions, even through electronic means.