Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde yesterday rejected the request of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to let Senator Leila De Lima conduct Senate hearings inside the PNP Custodial Center.

In response to Sotto’s request, he said that “considering Senator De Lima’s status as detention prisoner” the PNP cannot appropriately act on Sotto’s request.

Albayalde also cited the cases of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos who were both exiled and were also public officials.

“The PNP has relied on the controlling precedent on the matter of prohibition/limitation on the exercise of legislative functions while in detention laid down by the two similar cases decided by the Supreme Court,” excerpt from the response letter of Albayalde to Sotto said.

Last July 2, Sotto wrote to PNP Chief Albayalde requesting to let De Lima practice her position as chairman of the Senate committee on justice, welfare and rural development inside the PNP Custodial Center.

Sotto wrote Albayalde after he visited De Lima at the Custodial Center.

De Lima is detained for illegal drugs charges.