Former senator Leila De Lima expressed optimism that, following Duterte’s decision in 2019, the Marcos administration would bring the Philippines back into the International Criminal Court. She urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s administration to reconsider its current stance of noncooperation in the international court’s probe of former President Rodrigo Duterte and other enforcers of the drug war. According to De Lima, the ICC is empowered to handle such matters.

“How about those in the higher levels? Those behind the killings? Nobody is investigating them, not Congress, not the Ombudsman, not the (National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police), or any other investigative unit of the government,” De Lima said.

The International Criminal Court is investigating allegations that Duterte committed crimes against humanity in the course of his brutal ‘war against drugs,’ which resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, particularly in impoverished areas. These individuals were accused of being drug users and dealers, with both dubious police operations and vigilante-style killings being blamed for the fatalities.

Leni and Leila met in Naga

Days after being freed from jail, former senator Leila De Lima and former vice president Leni Robredo met on a Thursday morning. It was Atty. Robredo’s first encounter with De Lima following her release from detention. The former senator was being held when they last had a meeting.

When De Lima was released, Robredo shared that she wanted to visit her mother in Iriga. Finally, when De Lima arrived in Iriga, she got the chance to meet her mother.

For the first time since her detention nearly seven years ago, the former senator returned to Iriga City on Wednesday. One day after her Monday night bail release, she also paid a visit to Manaoag Church in Pangasinan.

In Naga City, the two were scheduled to meet with Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tirona.

Robredo expressed in a statement that De Lima’s release represented the triumph of justice and a long-overdue victory for both the nation and the former senator.

“Masaya ako na sa wakas ay namayani ang hustisya at makakapiling na natin nang malaya si Sen. Leila. Tagumpay ito hindi lang para sa kaniya, kundi para sa ating bayan,” Robredo said on Monday.

“Through all these years, Sen. Leila has been a source of inspiration for us. Her courage and her faith lent so many of us the resolve to continue fighting the good fight, to speak truth to power, and to keep believing that the Filipino people deserve so much more,” it added.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court released De Lima on bond on November 22 in connection with her latest drug charge, ending her incarceration since 2017. She had already been acquitted in two of the three drug cases.

Robredo ran for president in the 2022 national elections, while De Lima ran under Robredo’s senatorial slate. However, both were unable to secure their respective posts. Robredo and De Lima are natives of Camarines Sur.

“A lot of thinking”- De Lima on her political career

De Lima stated that she has not given any serious thought to her future in politics now that she is free.

She said it would take “a lot of thinking,” but she and other opposition figures will meet in the coming days.

“I’m not sure if plans [for the next elections] will be discussed,” she remarked. “On my part, it’s not on my mindset … whether it’s 2025 or any other subsequent elections because I have yet to determine whether I’ll be going back to public service.”

De Lima stated that her visit with former Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday was solely to catch up and inquire about Robredo’s plans upon her return to Manila.

Photo: Leni Gerona Robredo FB