De Lima to remain in detention

MANILA – Former Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, a staunch critic of then President Rodrigo Duterte, remains in detention despite a recent acquittal of one of the two drug cases filed six years ago.

Judge Joseph Abraham Alcantara of the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204, acquitted De Lima on May 12, citing the retraction of former Bureau of Corrections chief Rafael Ragos that he was coerced into testifying that De Lima received P10 million from high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

De Lima thanked God and her supporters and even released a statement shortly after her acquittal. “I was bestowed the wonderful Grace of a Court-decreed exoneration from one of the spurious drug cases filed against me,” she said. “I never wavered in my deep faith in our all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful and loving God. I also never wavered in my firm conviction on the power of truth and justice. God is truly great.” 

De Lima said she had no doubt from the very beginning that she would be acquitted in all the cases the Duterte regime has fabricated against her based on the merits and the strength of her innocence.

“That's already two cases down, and one more to go. I am of course happy that with this second acquittal in the three cases filed against me, my release from more than six years of persecution draws nearer. I am extremely grateful to all those who stood by and prayed for me all these years. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng naniwala at sumama sa aking laban. Hindi ninyo ako iniwan. Hindi ninyo ako pinabayaan. Maraming salamat sa inyong paninindigan na balang araw ay makakamit ko ang katarungan, lalaya, at makakasama kayong muli,” De Lima said. 

“Subalit nakakalungkot na sa tagal ng aking pagkakulong ay marami akong mga kaanak at kaibigan na hindi na makikitang muli. Ito marahil ang pinakamasakit na nangyari sa panggigipit sa akin. Gayunpaman, itinuring ko itong pagsubok sa tatag ng aking loob at lalim ng aking pananampalataya sa Panginoon. Sa huli, tayong lahat na lumaban para manaig ang katarungan ngayong araw na ito ang nagwagi, gaano man tayo sinubukang durugin at patahimikin ng mga lumapastangan sa ating bayan. Sa pagkamit ko ng hustisya sa araw na ito, malinaw sa akin na hindi rin ito ang katapusan. Tuloy ang aking laban,” she added. 

In 2021, she was also acquitted on the first charge of conspiracy in which she was accused of extorting P30 million from inmate Peter Co in 2016. De Lima, also a former senator, was charged with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading. She remains in detention at the police custodial center because of the pending case at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 in which she was accused of tolerating the widespread drug trade inside the NBP. (Mindana0 Examiner, Vera Files)