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De Lima’s team to probe those responsible for her detention

Paulo Gaborni November 14, 2023 at 09:24 PM

Now that she is out on bail, the newly freed former Senator Leila De Lima stated that she and her legal team are investigating how to bring those responsible for her detention to justice.

“There’s got to be a day of reckoning, although I’m not yet focused on that at this point. But there’s got to be a day of reckoning,” De Lima said on CNN Philippines’ Balitaan on Tuesday.

De Lima went on to say that a list of those to be held accountable was being compiled.

“Binibilang pa lang namin. We have an idea about who are, who exactly they are… There are others we are still really confirming and we are, binibilang sino talaga ang behind it.,” she said.

Furthermore, De Lima’s spokesman, Atty. Dino de Leon, confirmed that the team is already planning when to launch legal action against her “political persecutors.”

“As to whether it should be initiatived, she also mentioned: ‘Hindi naman pwedeng walang mananagot lalong-lalo na dun sa mga bumaboy ng justice system,'” he said in an ANC Dateline Philippines interview.

The former justice secretary, he said, is aware that “the fight is bigger than herself, it is because of her political convictions and her belief in the rule of law, in the justice system, and in democracy,” which is why she was jailed.

“Those people who authored this frame-up should be held to account. Those who are engaged in political persecution should be held to account,” de Leon said.

De Lima’s motion for reconsideration of her bail petition in her ongoing drug case was granted by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 on Monday. She gained temporary liberty shortly thereafter. The former opposition senator spent six years and eight months in jail on what rights groups termed trumped-up accusations. She is the most prominent critic of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs”.

Surrounded by crowds of media and police escorts, De Lima said: “For years, my whole being has been crying out for justice and freedom … For more than six long years I’ve been praying, praying so hard for this day to come.”

“Gusto ko pong pasalamatan ang BBM (Bongbong Marcos) administration for respecting the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. Sa inyo pong lahat na naniwala po sa akin, maraming, maraming salamat po. Hindi ‘nyo ako pinabayaan, ‘pinaglaban ‘nyo po ako dahil ipinaglalaban ko kayo palagi,” De Lima said.

De Lima and her co-accused, Jad Dera, Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez, and former Corrections Director Franklin Bucayu, were permitted to post bond in the amount of P300,000 each in light of the ruling.

The former senator was taken into custody in 2017, months after she began a senate probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s harsh anti-drug campaign. She was accused by Duterte of accepting bribes from drug gangs during her tenure as Justice Secretary. De Lima was charged with three drug-related offenses, two of which were later dropped. She has consistently refuted any wrongdoing.

Showing judiciary’s “independence” – Justice Sec. Remulla

De Lima’s granting of bail, according to Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, “shows the judiciary’s independence” during a press conference.

“It just shows the independence of the judiciary, [which] what I’ve always been saying from the beginning and that they are free to decide as they please, as they deem fit. And it just shows that democracy is alive and well in our country,” Remulla said.

Will the prosecution appeal De Lima’s bail? “I call it prosecutorial independence,” Remulla retorted. “I do not interfere with the prosecution especially [in] these matters. We follow the principle of institutional continuity, the moment we stepped into office. We respect the findings of the previous prosecutors.”

Justice will prevail – Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros, in a statement, expressed joy over De Lima’s release.

“Alongside countless other Filipinos, I am immensely happy for my friend and former colleague in the Senate. I know that after years of isolation, she is coming back to the loving company of her family, friends and supporters. Sen. Leila, we are all longing for your return. We all knew this day would come.” Hontiveros said.

“Her release from prison through bail is the beginning of the end to this shameful episode in our democracy. I thank all the lawyers, advocates and ordinary Filipinos who have lent their voices and support to #FreeLeila, everyone who did not stand idly by – you all remind this country of the very essence of democracy.” Hontiveros added.

However, the senator stated that the time spent in prison cannot be recovered. Nonetheless, she remains hopeful that the remaining charges against De Lima will be dismissed, and that she will be acquitted.

Screenshot from Leila De Lima FB Live

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