De Lima marks 6 years of ‘unjust detention’

FORMER senator Leila de Lima on Friday marked her sixth year in detention, which she has branded as unjust.

“Six years of unjust detention. Six years that my persecutors hoped would be spent in futility, submission and silence,” she said in a handwritten statement. “Instead, it has been 6 years of fighting the good fight… perhaps the most important 6 years of my life.”

De Lima, who spent nearly her entire tenure in the Senate in Camp Crame, wrote that she continues to fight for her innocence.

“I am still fighting for my own innocence and for justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings and the families they left behind,” she said.

She was arrested on Feb. 24, 2017, on charges filed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) related to drug trafficking in the New Bilibid Prison.

She denies the charges and described them as politically motivated being a vocal critic of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

In 2022, several key witnesses recanted their testimonies against her. One of them, Kerwin Espinosa, a self-confessed drug lord who testified against de Lima during a Senate hearing, submitted a counter-affidavit to the DoJ in which he claimed he was “coerced, pressured, intimidated, and seriously threatened” by the police.

A second witness, former officer in charge for the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Rafael Ragos, said he, too, had been “coerced” into testifying against the senator.

The court proceedings against de Lima have been marked by undue delays caused by the repeated failure of prosecution witnesses to appear and changes in judges handling the cases against her.

Detained former Justice secretary Leila De Lima waves as she arrives at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 to attend a hearing on the drug charges filed against her. De Lima, who has been detained since 2017, filed for bail as her lawyers expressed confidence that the motion will be approved. A petition to dismiss the former senator’s drug cases will also be filed before the court.PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN 

The former Justice secretary said she stood her ground for six years and she will continue to do so.

“Today, more than ever, I am convinced that I did the right thing of sacrificing my personal liberty and even my political career,” she said.

In her letter, de Lima said she “strongly believe that my vindication is at hand. But even if they continue to try to silence me, I refuse to cower.”

Former vice president Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo said in a video message on de Lima’s Facebook page that right will prevail in the end.

“When we look back at all the struggles, magpapasalamat kami na mayroong Leila de Lima na tumindig at hindi nagpatinag (When we look back at all the struggles, we are thankful there is a Leila de Lima who stood up and did not move away),” she said.

Former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said de Lima’s continued imprisonment is a mockery of the country’s justice system.

“We have believed from day one up until today that Leila is innocent, that she does not deserve to be imprisoned, that she has been persecuted and her continued detention is a mockery of our justice system,” the former vice presidential candidate said in a video statement also on de Lima’s page.

“We believe that she should be set free. Senator de Lima wants to go through the judicial process and her fortitude, perseverance and sacrifices inspired us to do as we can among the ranks of the opposition.”

De Lima has been jailed at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since 2017.

On Thursday, members of the European Parliament subcommittee on human rights visited her in her cell.

The group told reporters after the visit that they are calling for de Lima’s “immediate and unconditional” release and the dropping of the “bogus” charges against her.

The delegation is composed of Hannah Neumann, Ryszard Czarnecki, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Karsten Lucke and Miguel Urban.

“When we met with Senator de Lima, of course, we talked about the conditions she faces in prison. What a personal toll that this takes.” Neumann said.

Neumann was also asked about the results of the group’s meeting with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.

“I’m not going to share much information from confidential meeting. We greatly value that we had a very constructive exchange,” she said.

The delegation said it welcomed the Marcos government’s “commitment to engage human rights with the international community, including UN mechanisms.”

They noted “favorably” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’ commitment “to change the focus of the war on drugs away from a punitive approach towards prevention and rehabilitation.

DE LIMA’S FIGHT Former senator Leila de Lima writes about her six years of ‘unjust detention’ but says that those six years were also the ‘most important part of her life’. SCREENGRAB FROM FORMER SENATOR LEILA DE LIMA’S TWITTER ACCOUNT 

The European legislators also welcomed the Marcos administration’s commitment “not to reintroduce the death penalty.” The delegation said it would enhance the image of the Philippines if it rejoins the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to which all European Union member-states are signatories.

Then president Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the Philippines’ ICC membership in March 2018, a month after the ICC launched a preliminary examination into possible crimes committed as a result of Duterte’s drug war.

On Friday, business groups appealed to Marcos to pave the way for de Lima’s release, citing her constitutional right to a speedy trial.

The appeal was made by the Filipino CEO Circle, Justice Reform Initiative, Makati Business Club, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, and Women’s Business Council Philippines.

“We believe the justifications for her detention by the previous administration have long disappeared, as witnesses recanted their testimonies,” they said.

“Aside from restoring her human rights, we believe her release will help undo or avoid other human rights violations,” the groups added.