De Lima to seek case dismissal

THE camp of former senator Leila de Lima yesterday said it will seek the dismissal of the last drug case against the ex-lawmaker through the filing of a demurrer to evidence.

After almost seven years in detention, De Lima was released from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame on Monday night after Muntinlupa Court Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 Presiding Judge Gener Gito allowed her to post a P300,000 bail for her remaining drug case.

De Lima’s two other cases have been dismissed in February 2021 and May 12 this year.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, lawyer Boni Tacradon, one of De Lima’s legal counsels, said they will seek the court’s permission to file a demurrer to evidence once it rules on the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence, which he said they will oppose.

“Once it (formal offer of evidence) is resolved, under the rules, we are given a certain period of time, I think five days, to file what we call a demurrer to evidence, which in layman’s term is a motion to dismiss a criminal case,” Tacordon said.

He said their demurrer motion “will now be based on our claim that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.”

He expressed confidence that the remaining drug case against De Lima may be dismissed by the Muntinlupa court in the coming months.

Following De Lima’s release on bail, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called for the fast resolution of the last drug case against the former secretary of the Department of Justice.

In a short statement, Miller said it is imperative for the Philippines to issue a ruling on the final case against De Lima after she has been acquitted in two out of her three cases.

“The United States urges the Philippines to resolve the remaining case against her in a manner that is consistent with its international human rights obligations and commitments,” Miller said as he lauded the Muntinlupa court’s decision to allow her to post bail.

“The United States welcomes former Philippine Senator Leila de Lima’s release on bail after nearly seven years of detention on politically motivated drug charges,” said Miller.

FIRST DAY OUT

De Lima yesterday visited the Minor