MANILA- The arrest warrant for Senator Leila de Lima is a "positive development" following the filing of drug cases against her last week, a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) said.

VACC General Counsel Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said the arrest warrant is only the latest "positive development" in the government's campaign against illegal drugs.



"Slowly but surely, the wheels of justice continue to grind against Senator Leila de Lima. The issuance of a warrant of arrest is but the latest in a series of exceedingly positive developments in the war on drugs...," Topacio said in a statement Thursday.

A Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Thursday ordered the arrest of De Lima for her alleged involvement in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) illegal drug trade.

Presiding Judge Juanita Guerrero of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 signed the order to issue an arrest warrant against De Lima.

Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted De Lima for violating sections 5 and 22 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act pertaining to the sale, administration, dispensation, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs.

One of the complainants against De Lima is the VACC.

"We are confident that we can count on the continued vigilance and hard work of all our partners in the criminal justice system in order to bring the drug trafficking cases against Sen. De Lima to its final conclusion: her imprisonment for the rest of her life," Topacio said.