Global Courant 2023-05-12 06:45:00
MANILA – A Philippine court on Friday acquitted former Senator Leila De Lima, one of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critics, of charges over allegations that she received money from drug dealers as cabinet minister.
De Lima, 63, has been in prison for six years and despite her acquittal, she will not be released immediately due to another case pending in court.
De Lima was indicted in 2017, just a few months after she launched a Senate inquiry into Mr Duterte’s “war on drugs,” in which thousands of users and dealers were killed, many by police or under mysterious circumstances.
She was widely regarded by human rights groups as a political prisoner.
“Thank you, thank you, more prayers,” De Lima said as she emerged from the courtroom, in live-streamed comments.
“I am still asking for more prayers for another cause. Glorious day, glorious day, the beginning of my vindication,” she said.
An irate Mr. Duterte had repeatedly accused her of involvement in the drug trade during televised speeches, which De Lima dismissed as a vendetta.
De Lima, a former justice minister who has won several human rights awards, has said the allegations were fabricated and intended to silence her.
In 2021, a court dismissed one of three drug cases filed against De Lima stemming from Mr. Duterte’s allegations, sparking multiple online hate campaigns against her.
De Lima’s lawyer, Mr. Filibon Tacardon, read a statement and said: “I had no doubt from the beginning that I would be acquitted”.
He said De Lima cried when she heard of the acquittal. REUTERS
