DETAINED former senator Leila de Lima expressed strong belief on Friday, February 24, 2023, her sixth year behind bars, that her vindication is already at hand.
In a statement, De Lima said she will continue her battle and commitment to the Rule of Law and Human Rights “specifically, to speaking up for the victims, mostly poor and defenseless, of the so-called ‘War on Drugs,’ is stronger than any wall they can put between me and the outside world.”
“And today, after six years, I am still fighting for my own innocence and for justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings and the families they left behind. Today, more than ever, I am convinced that I did the right thing by sacrificing my personal liberty and even my political career,” she said.
“I strongly believe that my vindication is at hand. But even if they continue to try to silence me, I refuse to cower. I will stand my ground. For when they come after me and try to silence me, they are actually coming after those who cannot speak for themselves and defend themselves. I cannot, in good conscience, let that happen,” she added.
De Lima has been facing charges over her alleged involvement in illegal drugs while serving as the Justice Secretary from 2010 to 2015.
Charges against her, which were based on the claims of several personalities including self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, a convicted drug lord at the New Bilibid Prison and former government personnel, came after she sought investigation over the alleged human rights in the country amid former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
In April, Espinosa recanted his claims against De Lima, saying he was just forced to issue such due to his threats against his and his family’s life.
His alleged former driver/bodyguard Marcelo Adorco also retracted all his allegations against De Lima that she brought her drug money from his boss over the same reason.
Rafael Marcos Ragos, former officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) and deputy director for intelligence of the National Bureau of Investigation, who is one of De Lima’s co-accused in one of her drug charges, also admitted to making up lies to link the former justice secretary to the illegal drugs trade
He earlier executed an affidavit stating that he, together with former intelligence agent Jovencio Ablen Jr., delivered two P5 million to DeLima’s residence in November and December 2012.
He claimed that the money came from convicted drug personalities including Peter Co.
Ragos said he was ordered by then justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to manufacture false information against De Lima.
One of the three charges against De Lima has already been dismissed by the Muntinlupa court.
In August 2022, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the charges of direct and indirect bribery against De Lima and her former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan in relation to Espinosa and Adorco’s claims due to lack of probable cause. (SunStar Philippines)