Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) — Senator Leila de Lima filed a motion for bail Monday, saying the evidence against her was nothing but hearsay.
The motion was filed on June 15 before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC)-Branch 166 and said the senator should be granted bail as the evidence presented against her was “not strong.”
A statement from her lawyers about the motion said, “De Lima claims that she should be allowed to post bail because the evidence of the prosecution on her guilt is not strong, using the standard laid down in the Constitution and the Rules of Court for the allowance of bail in capital offenses.”
They added that while de Lima was constantly linked to the drug trade, it could not be proved that there was a connection.
“De Lima further pointed out that she should be allowed to post bail because the testimonies of the other witnesses against her have questionable probative value for being irrelevant, hearsay, incredible, biased, and self-serving, and that she is not a flight risk,” the statement said.
It further said granting of the motion for bail would mean de Lima’s constitutional presumption of innocence was upheld, as well as her right to due process and allow her to serve as an elected official among others.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra commented on the filing, saying the senator “should have done this a long time ago if she really thought that all the evidence against her were fabricated.”
De Lima was arrested in 2017 for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. She, however, maintains she is innocent of all charges.
Senator Leila de Lima files motion for bail before Muntinlupa court. Her camp argues that she is entitled to bail and that the evidence against her is not strong. | @XaveGregorio pic.twitter.com/pCXeOmldAF
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) June 15, 2020
