15-11-2023 (MANILA) Leila de Lima, the former senator of the Philippines, who was recently released on bail after nearly seven years of imprisonment on what she claims to be fabricated drug charges, has indicated that she is considering taking legal action against those she believes are responsible for her persecution. In a press briefing following her release from Camp Crame, de Lima expressed the difficulty of being unjustly detained and stressed the importance of holding accountable those who played a role in her imprisonment.
De Lima stated that discussions with her legal team are ongoing, and while she couldn’t provide specific details at the moment, she emphasized her determination to take action. She expressed her belief that it is challenging to imprison someone without any guilt and directed a message to former President Rodrigo Duterte, saying, “God forgive him and God bless him,” adding that Duterte knows what he did to her.
As of now, Duterte has not commented on de Lima’s release from detention. However, it is reported that he is expected to address the matter through his television program, Gikan sa Masa, which airs on the SMNI News Channel.
Leila de Lima served as the justice secretary during the administration of the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. She was elected as a senator in 2016, the same year Duterte assumed the presidency. Duterte linked de Lima to illegal drug trade activities allegedly occurring in the New Bilibid Prison during her tenure as justice secretary, leading to her incarceration in February 2017.
De Lima expressed hope for justice under the current government, believing it was unlikely to be achieved during the Duterte administration. With the change in administration, she anticipated that the truth of her innocence would be revealed and justice would prevail.
De Lima expressed gratitude to the Marcos administration for respecting the independence of the judiciary and upholding the rule of law. She emphasized the importance of the judiciary’s legitimacy lying in its independence, highlighting recent developments that demonstrate a functioning system.
Confident in the merits of her case, de Lima and her legal team were optimistic about the success of their bail petition. On Monday, she was granted bail by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206, allowing her to post bail of P300,000. Despite previous challenges and a previous denial by a judge handling her case, de Lima maintained her faith in the justice system.
While her case is still pending, de Lima expressed the significance of the legal vindication achieved through bail and the importance of continuing to advocate for truth, justice, the rule of law, democracy, and sovereignty. She pledged to persist in her fight, work harder for her advocacies, and remain aligned with the opposition.
De Lima thanked the international community for monitoring her case and expressed her intention to seek complete vindication. She stated her determination to rebuild her life, redeem her name, and expose the truth behind the forces that orchestrated her legal battles.
Addressing concerns of a possible influence from President Marcos in her release, Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Marcos, emphasized that her brother had no involvement in the case. She stressed the need to protect the independence of the judiciary and commended the court’s decision to grant de Lima bail as a testament to that independence.
Meanwhile, former Senator Franklin Drilon, an ally of de Lima, called on her to demand accountability for the six years she suffered in prison based on false testimonies. Drilon highlighted the importance of holding those who coerced witnesses into giving false testimony against de Lima responsible. He specifically mentioned former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, who was accused by former Bureau of Corrections chief Rafael Ragos of coercing him into signing pre-written affidavits against de Lima, as one who should be held accountable for the crime of subornation of perjury.
Drilon welcomed the recent developments as a step towards attaining justice for de Lima but emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the procedures that led to her prosecution. He called on the Supreme Court to investigate the seven-year delay in the de Lima case and suggested amending rules to prevent such delays in the future.
Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque noted that the decision to grant de Lima bail in her last drug case may indicate a weak case against her, potentially leading to her acquittal. Roque expressed his belief that the evidence against de Lima is not strong, as the court wouldn’t have granted bail otherwise. He maintained that Duterte had no involvement in the drug charges against de Lima.
