Foreign envoys welcome Leila de Lima release

The European Union (EU) and the US ambassador Marykay Carlson welcomed the release of former senator Leila de Lima after almost seven years in detention.

On X (formerly Twitter), EU Ambassador Luc Veron said he was “very pleased” over the development, Saleema Refran reported on “24 Oras”.

“Very pleased by the news of Leila de Lima’s release. A significant step for rule of law in the Philippines,” exclaimed Veron.

“A positive turn in the pursuit of justice! I hope that resolution of the remaining charges will be accelerated,” he said.

The EU has long called for de Lima’s release from imprisonment, with the European Parliament appealing to Philippine authorities to “drop all politically motivated charges against Senator Leila de Lima, to release her while she awaits trial, to allow her to freely exercise her rights and duties as an elected representative, and to provide her with adequate security and sanitary conditions while in detention.”

In 2017, the parliamentarians approved a joint resolution calling for her release and for a review of the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson also welcomed de Lima’s release and said they will continue to follow her case.

“Welcome news to see Leila de Lima approved for release at long last. We continue to follow her case closely and look forward to seeing the remaining charges against her resolved in accordance with Philippine law,” Carlson tweeted. 

De Lima was freed on bail on Monday evening after a Muntinlupa court earlier granted her motion for reconsideration on her bail petition in her remaining drug case.

Based on the decision, de Lima and her co-accused—former Corrections Director Franklin Bucayu, Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez, and Jad Dera—were allowed to post bail in the amount of P300,000 each. 

The former Department of Justice secretary described her release as “sweet freedom”.

“Precious freedom! Free at last! Pinakahihintay ko sa buhay ko for more than six years. Ito na, dumating na po. Maraming salamat,” she said. 

(Precious freedom! Free at last! I’ve been waiting for over six years. The day has finally arrived. Thank you.)

De Lima has been detained in Camp Crame since February 2017 over allegations of being involved in the drug trade, which she has repeatedly denied.

Her first acquittal came in February 2021 when Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 205 junked one of her three cases.

On May 12, Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 acquitted de Lima and Ronnie Dayan, her co-accused and former bodyguard, of an illegal drug trading charge on the grounds of reasonable doubt.

In October 2022, de Lima survived a hostage-taking incident inside the Custodial Center.

Three detainees—Arnel Cabintoy, Idang Susukan, and Feliciano Sulayao Jr.—tried to escape from the PNP facility and stabbed a police officer who was serving their food.

Cabintoy and Susukan were shot dead by another police officer while Sulayao was able to take de Lima hostage.

Headquarters Support Service Director Police Colonel Mark Pespes and his team were were able to neutralize Sulayao during negotiations and rescued de Lima.—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News