The Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa City allows Senator Leila de Lima to cast a vote in the coming elections in the Philippines, the senator is currently detained.

Judge Liezel A. Aquiatan, the Judge of the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205 said, “She is hereby allowed to exercise her right to suffrage under the Comelec’s (Commission on Elections) Escorted Detainee Voting System.”

The furlough of Senator de Lima will be between 12 pm to 2 pm on the 13th of May.

The RTC also said that de Lima will “bear all the necessary costs and expenses for her transport from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame Quezon City to her precinct polling place in Precinct No. 0648A, located at Santa Rita School, Parañaque City, Metro Manila pursuant to the escorted detainee voting system.”

The court only allowed the senator to cast a vote, she was also reminded that she is banned from giving out interviews before and after she votes.

Judge Aquiatan explained why Senator de Lima is allowed to cast a vote, she said it is because the senator has not been convicted in any offense.

A statement from the court said, “Senator De Lima can vote in a  specially designated polling place inside jails or escorted to vote elsewhere if the registration record is not transferred, deactivated canceled or deleted.”

The senator is detained inside the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.

Senator De Lima has been allowed to vote because of the law in the Philippines that allows detainees to cast a vote within the perimeter of police camps or inside military camps.

The senator is currently facing cases for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Acts.