Aquino admin officials, personalities laud De Lima's case dismissal

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition figures and former government officials during the administration of late President Benigno Aquino III were delighted by the dismissal of the third and last drug charge faced by former Sen. Leila de Lima.

On Monday, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 granted the former senator’s demurrer to evidence which is tantamount to the case’s dismissal.

In separate statements, supporters of De Lima welcomed the decision of the RTC.

“Vindication,” said Abigail Valte, former presidential spokesperson of Aquino, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Congrats, Sen. @AttyLeiladeLima! Your long-awaited personal vindication has finally come. Your next chapter begins,” former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who was a member of the Senate opposition, also said in a post on X.

It can be recalled that De Lima served as the Justice secretary during the Aquino administration.

As of writing, the Department of Justice has yet to issue a statement about her case dismissal.

Meanwhile, in separate statements, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and rights group Karapatan also welcomed the decision of the Muntinlupa RTC.

"We have been closely following this last case of the former senator and we laud the decision of Judge Gener Gito granting the demurrer. Leila de Lima is now free like a bird, and all charges are now dismissed. This is a victory not only for de Lima but also for the rule of law and justice in our country,” Sonny Matula, President of FFW said.

“Karapatan welcomes the dismissal of all trumped up charges vs former Sen. Leila de Lima, with the Muntinlupa court granting her demurrer,” Karapatan Secretary General Tinay Palabay also said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Palabay added that "Sen. Leila is a victim of unjust arrest and detention, and we support her efforts to pursue justice against those who perpetrated these acts of reprisal and judicial harassment against her because of her vocal opposition to the extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s drug war."

“In the light of this development, we call on authorities to release all political prisoners who like Sen. de Lima faced trumped-up charges because of the work that they do in