US urges PH to resolve remaining drug case vs. De Lima

As it welcomed the release of former Senator Leila de Lima on bail, the United States on Tuesday urged the Philippines to resolve her remaining drug case.

In a statement, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller urged the country to resolve De Lima’s remaining case “in a manner that is consistent with its international human rights obligations and commitments.”

On Monday, after almost seven years in detention, De Lima was freed on bail in her drug case before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206.

“The US welcomes former Philippine Senator Leila de Lima’s release on bail after nearly seven years in detention on politically motivated drug charges. Senator De Lima’s release follows her acquittal in two out of three cases,” he said, as shared by the US Embassy in a post on X.

De Lima’s first acquittal came in February 2021 when the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205 junked one of her three cases.

On May 12, the 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.

The former senator previously said that she has no regrets despite her long detention, adding that she will work on “complete vindication.”

“I will further work for complete vindication, because hindi pa nga tapos itong kaso na ito (This case hasn’t yet ended.). I want people to know the truth of my innocence. I want the people to know how it happened. I want people to know who is behind it. So in due time, because that’s vindication. Kasi maraming napaniwala noon (A lot of people were led to believe),” she had said.

In her remaining case, De Lima and others are accused of conspiring with each other to commit illegal drug trading by allegedly using New Bilibid Prison inmates to sell and trade illegal drugs.

All three cases were filed in February 2017. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News