'De Lima will likely be acquitted'
FORMER senator Leila de Lima will likely be acquitted in her remaining drug case, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Wednesday.
«Chances are she will be acquitted,» he said, citing the decision of Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 presiding Judge Gener Gito that he allowed de Lima to post bail because the prosecution was not able to prove her guilt «is strong.»
Remulla said the drug case is non-bailable, but the former senator was allowed to post bail.
«The momentum is very much in favor of the defense,» the justice chief said.
De Lima's case, he added, shows the independence of the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Australia, France, Germany and Sweden joined other nations in welcoming the temporary release of de Lima and pressed for the speedy resolution of her case.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong (HK) Yu said she was «pleased to see Atty. Leila de Lima released from detention after many years.»
«We look forward to the speedy resolution of her legal matters in accordance with Philippine law,» Yu wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
French Ambassador to Manila Marie Fontanel, also said on X, «For us in France, November 13 is painful, remembering the atrocities of terrorist attacks [in] 2015.»
«But for once a November 13 is synonym of an excellent news: freedom for Leila de Lima. We will continue following the case. But at least tonight, November 13, 2023, rhymes with hope,» Fontanel said.
German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Pfaffernoschke reposted the statement of the German Embassy in Manila regarding de Lima.
«Germany is pleased to see the release of former senator Leila de Lima on bail after being held for six years in pre-trial detention. We will continue to monitor her situation closely and hope for a swift resolution of the case against her,» the embassy posted on X.
The Embassy of Sweden in Manila also welcomed de Lima's «provisional release after more than six years of pre-trial incarceration.»
«This is a positive step for the rule of law in the Philippines. We will continue to follow her case and look forward to seeing the remaining charges against her resolved in accordance with the Philippine law and in
