De Lima hopes SC will nullify arrest over drug charges 

Ahead of the scheduled oral arguments, Senator Leila de Lima hopes the Supreme Court (SC) will nullify the arrest warrant against her over drug-related charges. 

In a handwritten statement sent from her detention facility in Camp Crame Monday, De Lima reiterated that her detention is an attempt to silence her. 

“Umaasa po ako na pagbibigyan ng Korte Suprema ang aking kahilingan na palayain na po ako. Malaking pagkakamali po ang pagpapakulong sa akin,” De Lima, a fierce critic of the Duterte administration, said. 

“Gusto lang naman ako nilang patahimikin. Inosente po ako. Hindi po ako drug lord o drug trade queen. Hindi po ako corrupt. Hindi po ako mamamatay tao. At habang patuloy ang mga patayan at kasinungalingan, hindi ko po kayang manahimik lamang,” the senator added.

De Lima made the statement a day before the SC starts its oral arguments on the senator’s petition to nullify the arrest warrant and the court proceedings over her alleged involvement in the Bilibid drug trade. 

De Lima, meanwhile, said she turned emotional upon hearing her supporters when she appeared before a Quezon City court. 

It was her first appearance since she was detained at the PNP Custodial Center on February 24. 

“I was teary eyed upon seeing throngs of supporters at the Q.C. Hall of Justice chanting “Laban Leila,” “Free Leila,” De Lima said. 

“Kept reminding myself—I need to be strong always for them,” she added.