Hontiveros wants De Lima accusers held accountable after last drug case junked

Senator Risa Hontiveros is urging authorities to exact accountability against those who wrongly accused former Senator Leila de Lima.

Hontiveros made the call after a Muntinlupa City court granted De Lima's demurrer to evidence which effectively dismissed the third and final drug case that was filed against her.

"[W]e need to focus our attention on those who have wrongly accused her. False charges compromise not only the accused's reputation but also the integrity of our legal system," Hontiveros stressed in a statement.

"We call upon the authorities to pursue and hold accountable those who have perpetuated these unfounded allegations. Justice must be served, and those who have wronged her and our legal system must face the consequences of their actions," she added.

Although she did not mention names, it can be recalled that former President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly accused De Lima of being involved in illegal drugs.

The Department of Justice, under then-Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, filed three separate drug cases against De Lima in connection with her alleged participation in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

For Hontiveros, the dismissal of the last case against De Lima only "proves that justice is based on truth and evidence, not on baseless charges and political motivations."

"She has faced public ridicule and injustices, yet she remained steadfast in her commitment to truth and justice. Noon pa man, alam kong walang sala si Sen. Leila at umaapaw ang kaligayahan sa puso ko na ngayon ay nakamit na niya ang hustisya. From 'Free Leila Now' to 'Now, Leila is free,'" the senator remarked

(Even then, I knew Sen. Leila was innocent and my heart is overjoyed that today justice was delivered to her.) 

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro echoed the call for accountability, saying de Lima’s experience was a case of political persecution.

"This decision exposes the fabricated nature of the charges and the abuse of the justice system for political ends. We must not forget that Senator De Lima lost almost seven years of her life to these baseless accusations. The officials who orchestrated this injustice must be held accountable," Castro said.

“Justice for the other victims of the Duterte drug war should also be fast-tracked, considering that they have also been waiting for years, especially for those who were extrajudicially killed by the police,” she added.

Likewise, Castro said the fabricated raps against de Lima should prompt a thorough review of all cases related to the previous administration's drug war.

“How many more innocent individuals are still detained based on manufactured evidence and coerced testimonies?" Castro said.

"This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding due process, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights. We must remain vigilant against any attempts to weaponize the justice system for political purposes," Castro added.

Veteran lawmaker and Liberal Party (LP) president Edcel Lagman said the verdict on de Lima was “justice inordinately delayed” and as a result, "brutalized the rule of law."

In a separate statement, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said the junking of raps against de Lima marks a significant moment of justice.

“This is a victory not only for de Lima but also for the rule of law and justice in our country. The labor sector alongside various human rights advocates, has stood firm in calling for her release and has consistently highlighted the political nature of the charges against her,” the labor group said.

In a separate interview, government prosecutors Romancito Ocampo and Darwin Cañete said they are mulling the filing of a motion for reconsideration.

“We have not yet read the decision itself, so we are not discounting the possibility of exhausting all proper legal remedies,” Ocampo said.

“We have to discuss whether or not we will file a motion for reconsideration or any other legal remedy that may be warranted,” he added.

GMA News Online sought the comment of Duterte, through his former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and Aguirre on Hontiveros' statement but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

De Lima, after spending almost seven years in prison, said in January that she is eyeing to file charges against Duterte and Aguirre over her years-long detention on drug allegations.—With Llanesca Panti/RF, GMA Integrated News