Leila De Lima studying legal action vs. Duterte, others over detention

Former Senator Leila de Lima is considering legal action to hold accountable former President Rodrigo Duterte and other individuals allegedly behind her detention due to charges related to illegal drugs.

In an interview with Sandra Aguinaldo that aired on “24 Oras,” De Lima said she felt “at peace” following the acquittal of her third and last pending drug case. 

“Napakaginhawa ng pakiramdam ko. I feel so at peace, nakakahinga na ako nang maluwag ngayon,” the ex-legislator said. 

(I feel at peace. I can now breathe with ease.)

De Lima said she and her lawyer is looking into how to hold accountable Duterte, former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, and other persons reportedly behind her seven-year detention. 

“’Yung mga nag-operate sa akin kasi in-operate nila ako. Pinilit nila ‘yung mga Bilibid witnesses na imbento lang ang mga kuwento tungkol sa pagkakasangkot ko umano sa illegal drug trading inside Bilibid,” she added. 

(They operated against me. They used the Bilibid witnesses to fabricate stories about my alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.)

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 when the Muntinlupa City RTC-Branch 205 junked one of her three cases.

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.

ICC

De Lima reiterated her willingness to aid the International Criminal Court (ICC) into its investigation into the controversial drug war. 

“If the Office of the Prosecutor would deem it proper and necessary for me to testify on whatever aspect na makatutulong ako, then why not?” said de Lima.

(If the Office of the Prosecutor would deem it proper and necessary for me to testify on whatever aspect I can help, then why not?)

“Talaga naman maling-mali ang ginawa. Summary killings are summary killings.  It's a crime against the Penal Law and against God. Nag-shortcut sila, eh. It's a crime which is murder. It is wrong. It's a violation of the right to life, which is the basic human right,” she added. 

(What they did was wrong. Summary killings are summary killings.  It's a crime against the Penal Law and against God. It's a crime which is murder. It is wrong. It's a violation of the right to life, which is the basic human right.) 

The ex-legislator also called on the Marcos administration to reconsider its position on the ICC probe, saying coordinating with the international court does not equate to surrendering the country’s sovereignty. 

“You are not really surrendering in the fundamental sense of the word, 'yung sovereignty ng Pilipinas. May obligasyon ka bilang state party,” she said. 

(You are not surrendering in the fundamental sense of the word. You have obligations as a state party.)

“May mga kakulangan ang ating justice system. Ang mga mapapanagot lang are the low-level perpetrators but not the mastermind. Walang nagiimbestiga kay Mr. Duterte and kay now-Senator Bato dela Rosa. 'Yun ang focus ng ICC,” de Lima added. 

(Our justice system has lapses. It can hold low-level perpetrators liable but not the masterminds. No one investigated Duterte and now-Senator Bato dela Rosa. That’s the focus of the ICC.)

Ronnie Dayan

The former lawmaker admitted the drug allegations tainted her public image. De Lima also clarified that she and her co-accused Ronnie Dayan were not involved in the drug trade. 

“Ang masasabi ko lang is that walang kaugnayan wether ako o si Ronnie Dayan sa illegal drug trade,” the ex-senator said. 

(What I can say is we did not have any connection to the illegal drug trade.)

“Kasi ang pinalabas nila naging bag man ko, nagbibigay ng pera, parang ganon ang mga storya nila. Walang-wala po yan. Pero ang findings ng court parang di nila napatunayan 'yung conspiracy,” she said. 

(They made it look like he was my bag man. That’s not true.)

De Lima added, “I think naging strategy nila 'yan para mas maraming tao maniniwala na involved ako sa droga 'pag ipalabas nila na masama akong babae”.

(I think that was their strategy. More people will believe that I am capable of all these things if I was an immoral woman.)

Eleksyon 2025

De Lima said she had no plans to run in the 2025 national and local elections (NLE). She is currently the spokesperson of the Liberal Party, which served as the opposition party under the Duterte administration. 

“Totoo na kakaunti na lang kami sa Liberal Party dahil masyado kaming dinemonize. Alam niyo naman ang kultura ng politika dito, ng political system natin, na medyo bulok. After ng election at kung sino ang ruling party, sino ang ruling elite, doon sasama karamihan. Walang mga loyalty,” she said. 

(It’s true that there are only a few of us left in the LP because we were demonized. That’s the Filipino political culture, people will join the ruling elite after the election. There’s no loyalty to their party.)

“’Yung mga nagpapanggap ngayon, mga sinasabi nila, na they are now the oposisyon, narinig na ba natin na magsalita tungkol dyan sa West Philippine Issue? Ano ba posisyon nila diyan. Pro- China pa nga sila,” de Lima added. 

(Those who are saying they are now the opposition, have you heard them comment about the WPS issue? They are even pro-China.) —NB, GMA Integrated News