MANILA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Supreme Court dismissed on Tuesday Senator Leila de Limas petition to nullify her arrest on drug charges.
De Lima, who is detained in a police jail since February, is a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Voting 9-6, the Supreme Court ruled to reject De Limas motion to recall her warrant of arrest issued by a lower court.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) in February filed three criminal charges against De Lima for allegedly receiving bribes from jailed drug lords in exchange of their protection during her term as justice secretary.
The DOJ also accused De Lima of using the money from illegal drug trade to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign.
The lower court charged De Lima with three counts of violation of Section No. 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to trafficking and criminal liability of government officials.
De Lima, who served as justice secretary during the previous Aquino administration, has vehemently denied the charges, saying her arrest and detention are meant to silence her and it was a political prosecution.
