Has Leila De Lima forgiven Rodrigo Duterte over drug charges, detention?

The Liberal Party (LP) has no plans to ally with the administration for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE), according to former Senator Leila de Lima.

“Sa panig ng Liberal Party, wala kaming ganyang plano hindi namin pinag-uusapan yan,” De Lima, LP spokesperson, told Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday.

(We have no such plans in the Liberal Party.)

“Ang posisyon namin ay no, kasi opposition nga kami. Walang plano ang Liberal Party, as a party, to coalesce with the BBM administration for purposes of the 2025 elections. That is the position of the LP at the moment. I cannot say if that position can change,” de Lima added. 

(We are in the opposition. We have no plan as a party list to coalesce with the BBM administration for purposes of the 2025 elections. That is the position of the LP at the moment. I cannot say if that position can change.)

While they share similar stances on some issues including the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute, de Lima said the LP would continue to question the government’s policies if needed. 

“Sa WPS suportado namin ang posisyon ng BBM administration asserting all the way our sovereign rights. Maganda ang kanilang transparency strategy. Kung ano 'yung mga issues na nagkakatugma ang pananaw, why not? Hindi naman kami banat nang banat,” the ex-legislator added. 

(We support the BBM administration in the WPS issue. We think the transparency strategy is good. If we share a similar stance on some issues, why not? We don’t solely criticize.)

“Ayaw namin actually pumili between the Marcos bloc or Duterte bloc. Gusto namin sa issues kami mage-engage,” she added. 

(We don’t want to choose between the Marcos bloc or the Duterte bloc. We want to engage in the issues.)

On Monday, de Lima was cleared of her third and final drug charges after the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 granted the demurrer for the failure of the prosecution to prove the guilt of all accused beyond a reasonable doubt.

The ex-senator 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 a reasonable doubt.

During her seven-year detention, the former lawmaker admitted she had moments when she wanted to give up such as the hostage-taking incident at the PNP Custodial Center in 2022 that she figured. 

She also recalled missing the graduation of her child and the wake of several colleagues including late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. 

“I stood my ground, hindi ko pinahalata na natatakot ako. I had to be mentally alert kasi kung maunahan ka ng takot hindi ka na makakapagisip ng maayos. I was trying to appease him pero parang suicidal na rin eh,” she said. 

(I stood my ground, I did not show my fear. I had to be mentally alert because I may lose my focus should I become scared. I was trying to appease him but he was suicidal already.)

“Sabi ko, ‘Lord kayo na ho ang bahala, bahala na kayo sa pamilya ko’. May punto doon na Lord bakit naman ganito, nagdusa ako, nag-sacrifice ako nang ganitong katagal, that was already six years. And then ganito lang pala manyayari sa akin, mamamatay lang pala ako dito from a hostage taking incident,” de Lima added. 

(I entrusted everything to God. There was a point when I thought I was going to die.)

De Lima also said she spent her time writing, meditating, praying, and tending strays to at least 20 cats in detention.

“Dalawa o tatlo nga sa kanila tumatabi sa akin sa napakaliit kong single bed. 'Yung mga pinaka-favorite ko yung lima inuwi ko. Buti na lang may mga pusa kasi malaking bagay yung tulong nila na maibsan ko yung kalungkutan,” de Lima added. 

(Two or three of them lie with me on my bed. I took home five of them. The cats helped ease my loneliness.)

Meanwhile, De Lima expressed hope the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the alleged human rights violation under the Duterte administration’s drug war would go further under the Marcos government. 

“Umaasa po tayo na yung proseso ngayon saI ICC would result in the correct outcome and the correct outcome, of course, would be the issuance of the warrant of arrest, prosecution, and ultimately imprisonment,” she added. 

(We hope the ICC probe would result in the correct outcome and the correct outcome, of course, would be the issuance of the warrant of arrest, prosecution, and ultimately imprisonment.)

Asked if she had forgiven the persons allegedly behind her drug charges, de Lima answered: “Napatawad ko na actually ang mga witnesses na yan, mga trumabaho sa witnesses na yan but pagdating kay Pangulong Duterte hindi pa po ako ready.”

(I had already forgiven them but former President Duterte? I am not yet ready.)

“At saka unang-una, humingi na ba sya ng tawad? I've been praying for the grace na makaya ko nang patawarin sya pero sa ngayon hindi pa,” she said. 

(He never asked forgiveness. I've been praying for the grace so I can forgive him but I am not yet ready.) —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News