Proof to ICC: De Lima case
The recent release from a police detention center of former Senator Leila de Lima could not come at the most opportune time. Why so? The lower court decision best demonstrated how the justice system in the Philippines works, albeit painstakingly slow.
Now 64 years old, the former Senator was finally allowed to post bail for her temporary liberty and got freed more than a week ago. It was after almost seven years of being detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City. She spent more than half of her six-year term of office as a Senator while under detention.
A lawyer by profession, the feisty Senator was kept busy defending herself in three criminal cases lodged before different Metro Manila regional trial courts (RTC). All three separate De Lima cases were filed during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Speaking of ex-President Duterte, the International Criminal Court (ICC) gets a new wind to push the investigation on the former Philippine leader on crimes against humanity charges. Mr. Duterte is being held to account for the alleged extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers during his watch at Malacañang.
So far, De Lima hurdled two of the three illegal drugs cases, which were dismissed by the courts. In February 2021, De Lima was acquitted on her first criminal case. In May 2023, De Lima was acquitted also on the second illegal drugs case after the recantation of two state witnesses. Supposedly “bothered by their conscience,” they both recanted their respective sworn testimonies against De Lima.
The only remaining active case of De Lima is the conspiracy on illegal drugs charges pending before Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito. This third case finally got De Lima’s motion for reconsideration (MR) for bail petitions – repeatedly denied in the past by two previous sitting judges – granted by Gito.
Last week, ex-Duterte presidential spokesperson Harry Roque questioned the alleged “relationship” between De Lima and Judge Gito. Not disclosed beforehand to the public prosecutors, Roque described Judge Gito as once a “favorite student” of De Lima at the San Beda College of
