Ex-SOJ Aguirre ‘expected’ dismissal of De Lima’s last drug case

The dismissal of the last drug case against former senator Leila de Lima has long been expected, former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Monday.

"That has been expected for a long time. As I said before, I am happy for this development as she had suffered enough already," Aguirre told GMA News Online when asked to comment on the latest court decision favoring De Lima.

The three drug cases, long decried by De Lima as trumped-up charges against her, were filed under Aguirre's leadership at the DOJ during the administration of Rodrigo Duterte.

Earlier in the day, a Muntinlupa court granted De Lima's demurrer to evidence, effectively dismissing the third and final drug case that was filed against the former senator.

De Lima filed her demurrer in March, where she asked the court to acquit and declare her not guilty for failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The former senator was freed on bail in November 2023 after being detained in Camp Crame since February 2017 over drug allegations.

Her first acquittal came in February 2021 at the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205.

In May 2023, 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 ground of reasonable doubt.

Earlier, a Quezon City court also dismissed De Lima’s two disobedience cases.

De Lima, after spending almost seven years in prison, said in January that she is considering filing charges against Duterte and Aguirre over her years-long detention. — BM, GMA Integrated News