MANILA, Philippines — Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima said on Saturday that she has come out with a second memorandum to President Benigno S. Aquino III in an effort to find legal means to address the plight of the so-called “Morong 43.”

Majority of the health workers went on hunger strike on Friday.

The former head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said she had already finished a second memorandum to the President regarding the Morong 43 and it should assure the detained health workers that mistakes in their case are “rectified.”

“We are continuing to find means to address this matter, to address the plea of Morong 43… for their release but with the process. Hopefully, magkakaroon ng closure sa usapin na ito (this issue finds closure),” she told reporters in an ambush interview.

The DoJ Secretary said she has already submitted her recommendations to the President.

“May recommendation ako sa kanya hintay ko approval ni President Noy sa recommendation although may punto si Pres. Noy na nasa korte (I’ve made my recommendation to the President and it awaits his approval. He does have a point that the case is already in court),” she said.

She said her recommendations to the President are within the bounds of law and was made, in part, to address the plight of the Morong 43.

She noted that the 43 health workers have already been charged before the Regional Trial Court of Morong, Rizal with violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8294 and Republic Act 9516 which imposes penalties for illegal possession of grenades and other explosives and Comelec Resolution No. 8714 in relation to Article 261 (q) of the Election Code which prohibits any person, unless authorized by the Comelec, to carry firearms outside his residence during the election period.

De Lima, furthermore said, a petition is also pending before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to reverse the Court of Appeals’ (CA’s) ruling denying the petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by the health workers.

The charges were filed following inquest proceedings on the detainees conducted by State Prosecutor Romeo B. Senson.