MANILA - Another judge hearing the drug charges against Senator Leila de Lima inhibited herself from the case, according to a court order released Tuesday.

Judge Lorna Navarro Domingo of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 inhibited from case to show "good faith" despite rejecting the grounds raised by De Lima in her motion.

"In order to show good faith to all parties concerned and being within the discretionary of this court, the undersigned presiding Judge recused herself from trying this case," she said in a 5-page order dated November 5.

De Lima wanted Domingo to inhibit from her drug case because of the judge's alleged "manifest bias, partiality, and even hostility" in her actions during several hearings.

The senator cited Domingo's denial of one of her motions on the same day it was filed. The judge, she further claimed, "prematurely ruled" on her motion to disqualify a witness against her.

De Lima also alleged that Domingo violated her right to an open and public trial when she ordered court personnel to ban media from entering the courtroom to observe the proceedings.

But Domingo defended herself from De Lima's claims, insisting she had correctly ruled on De Lima's pleas. She also defended her restriction on the access to the court's proceedings.

"Only media men were not allowed inside the court room to cover the proceedings since it would distract the parties as well as lawyers inside. The Court observed sub-judice rule," she said.

In a ruling last October, the Supreme Court eventually allowed some reporters to cover the hearings on De Lima's drug case.

Judge Patria Manalastas-De Leon, also of Muntinlupa Branch's 206, opted for early retirement last February.

Outside Branch 206, three judges already inhibited including Antonietta Medina, Judge Juanita Guerrero, and Myra Bayot-Quiambao.

Three Muntinlupa courts are currently hearing the drug cases against De Lima, who has been detained at Camp Crame for over two years now.