8-6-2023 (MANILA) A Philippine court has rejected the bail request of Leila de Lima, a former senator and prominent critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been detained for six years on drug charges that she claims are unfounded and politically motivated.
Leila de Lima, aged 63, faced a series of charges in 2017 shortly after initiating a Senate inquiry into Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs,” which resulted in the deaths of thousands of drug users and dealers at the hands of police or under suspicious circumstances.
During his presidency, which ended last year, Duterte publicly accused de Lima, who served as the justice minister at the time, of colluding with drug syndicates in prisons. As a result, she was charged with conspiracy to trade narcotics.
Duterte subjected her to public humiliation by making scandalous revelations about her personal life, leading to hate campaigns orchestrated by his fervent social media followers.
While two out of three cases against de Lima have been dismissed, she sought bail in the remaining case on health grounds.
“We did not anticipate this decision,” said her legal counsel Filibon Tacardon in a statement, announcing their intention to file a motion for reconsideration. “We will continue to fight for justice and Senator De Lima’s freedom after more than six years of detention and separation from her loved ones.”
The court, in its ruling, deemed her bail request untenable and stated that the determination of her guilt or innocence would be based on the evidence presented.
Many activists consider de Lima a political prisoner and have called for her release. Human Rights Watch described the denial of bail as “prolonging the injustice committed against her.” The organization stated, “This is a sad day for her and for those who believe in the cause of human rights.”
The Akbayan partylist, a progressive parliamentary group, issued a statement emphasizing the need for the courts to decide cases based on merit rather than political influence.
Duterte served as president from 2016 to 2022 and gained international notoriety for his campaign promise to eliminate drug dealers and users in the Philippines, resulting in numerous deaths. His daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, currently holds the position of vice president.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is investigating allegations of crimes against humanity committed under Duterte’s leadership during the drug crackdown. Duterte denies inciting police to kill and claims that he only authorized the use of self-defense.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that the court’s decision regarding de Lima’s bail should be respected.
