'Joyful Victory': Leila de Lima Acquitted in Drug Case, Moves Closer to Freedom
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- 12 May 2023
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Leila de Lima, a former senator and a vocal critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has taken a significant step toward regaining her freedom after spending six years in detention, as a Philippine court has dismissed one of the two remaining drug charges against her.
In 2017, Leila de Lima was arrested and accused of accepting drug money shortly after initiating a Senate investigation into Duterte's controversial "war on drugs." Human rights organizations claim that this campaign led to the deaths of thousands of impoverished young men.
The written ruling, released by regional trial court judge Abraham Alcantara, stated that Leila de Lima, now 63 and a former senator and justice minister, along with another defendant, "are hereby cleared of the charges due to reasonable doubt." Relieved by the outcome, de Lima described it as the "beginning of my vindication" while speaking to reporters after being escorted out of the court by the police, emphasizing that it was a "glorious day."
Although the hearing was closed to the media, approximately 50 supporters gathered outside, chanting slogans such as "Free Leila Now" and "Junk the Fake Evidence."
With this recent ruling, de Lima, currently detained at the National Police Headquarters, moves one step closer to her freedom. She had already been acquitted of one of the other three charges, which she and rights groups had long contended were fabricated.
Amnesty International stated that the decision made on Friday was "long overdue" and called on the authorities to dismiss the remaining drug case promptly and fairly process de Lima's application for temporary release in relation to this pending case. Montse Ferrer, Amnesty's interim deputy regional director for research, issued a statement urging the authorities not to further delay de Lima's release and to allow her to reunite with her family, friends, and supporters after enduring six long years.
De Lima is accused of accepting money from inmates at the country's largest prison, allowing them to engage in drug trafficking during her tenure as justice minister from 2010 to 2015 under then-leader Benigno Aquino. However, crucial witnesses began retracting their testimonies as Duterte's presidential term neared its end.
In April, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa provided an affidavit and an apology, stating that his statements against de Lima were made under "pressure, coercion, intimidation, and serious threats to his life and his family."
Furthermore, prosecution witness Rafael Ragos, who served as the officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Corrections in 2012, also retracted his previous court testimony, claiming that his statements about delivering money from drug lords to de Lima were "false" and coerced by Duterte's justice secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre.
Following these retractions, de Lima's defense team filed a bail petition for the outstanding charge and is currently awaiting the court's decision on the matter.
In 2018, a United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined that de Lima's detention was "arbitrary" due to the lack of a legal basis, and her right to a fair trial had not been "respected."
Calls for de Lima's release have resurged among diplomats and human rights advocates, echoing similar demands made since President Ferdinand Marcos' regime.
"The cases against de Lima are part of former President Duterte's vengeful campaign to destroy her for daring to investigate the human rights abuses he committed while serving as mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines," stated Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in emailed comments.
During her tenure as head of the Philippines Human Rights Commission in 2009, de Lima initiated an investigation into drug-related killings in the southern city of Davao, where Rodrigo Duterte held the position of mayor. When Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016 and reports of alleged drug dealers' bodies started to pile up, de Lima launched a Senate investigation into the "drug war," which she believed mirrored the activities of the infamous Davao Death Squad.
Duterte's "drug war" is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court for possible "crimes against humanity." A UN report in 2021 revealed that 8,663 individuals lost their lives in anti-drug operations. However, the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines and local human rights organizations suggest that the actual death toll could be three times higher.
The dismissal of charges against Leila de Lima marks a significant turning point in her legal battle. Nevertheless, the journey to reclaim her freedom is not yet complete. Her defense team has sought bail for the remaining charge, and they await the court's ruling on this matter.
As calls for justice and her release grow louder, international entities, diplomats, and human rights defenders continue to advocate for Leila de Lima's cause. The case against her is seen by many as a vindictive attempt by former President Duterte to silence and destroy her for daring to uncover the human rights abuses committed during his time as mayor and president.
Leila de Lima's acquittal on one of the drug charges represents a pivotal moment, offering hope for her eventual release and the chance to be reunited with her loved ones and supporters after enduring a lengthy and challenging period of incarceration.
