Ka Leody wants De Lima released; Isko, Pacquiao push for speedy trial

Presidential aspirant and labor leader Leody De Guzman believes that opposition senator Leila De Lima should be released from jail, saying she was a victim of a "vindictive" president.

De Guzman said De Lima was imprisoned because of her criticisms against the Duterte administration. He noted that President Rodrigo Duterte has always ran after his critics.

"'Yan ang isang katangian ng ating Pangulo ngayon, kapag may bumabatikos sa kanya, kanyang ipinakukulong o kaya naman ay kanyang titirahin. Marami 'yan, sa media, sa ABS-CBN, lahat tinitira niya. 'Yan ang katangian ng gobyerno ngayon na ang paraan ay pananakot. Kaya si De Lima dapat palayain," De Guzman said.

De Lima has been held at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Quezon City since February 2017 on charges of allowing the illegal drug trade to flourish within the New Bilibid Prison during her tenure as justice secretary.

In February 2021, the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court granted De Lima’s demurrer to evidence in a drug case involving Jose Adrian Dera even as it sustained another.

Moreno said De Lima should be given the chance to defend herself.

“Senator Leila De Lima deserves to have a day in the court and ma-practice niya ‘yung kanyang karapatan, lahat ng uri ng pagtatanggol sa sarili, dapat magamit ni Senator Leila de Lima,” the Aksyon Demokratiko bet said.

“And I guarantee you, Senator Leila De Lima, under my watch, she will have it,” he added.

Pacquiao claimed that he talked with De Lima’s former aide Ronnie Dayan, who allegedly said he transported money.  Despite this, he said De Lima deserves due process under the Constitution.

“Nakausap ko yung partner ni Leila de Lima si Dayan at nagconfess talaga na naghatid siya ng pera. Tumanggap siya ng pera pero mahirap naman po yun kung hindi natin idadaan sa due process parang hindi natin nirerespeto yung Constitution natin,” he said.

“Pabilisin yung trial para makalabas na siya kung wala siyang kasalanan. Kung may aksalanan siya edi mahahatulan siya ng sistensya, yun po ang kailangan natin due process, pabilisin dahil tumatagal lang dyan nakabinbin lang hindi naman nareresolba yung problema,” Pacquiao added.—LDF, GMA News