De Lima slams appeal to reconsider drug case acquittal

Metro Manila, Philippines - Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima slammed the state prosecutors' appeal to reconsider her acquittal from a drug case.

Prosecutors from the Department of Justice asked the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 to reverse its acquittal and declare de Lima and her former aide Ronnie Dayan guilty of illegal drug trade and extortion in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

De Lima was charged with three drug cases during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. She was cleared from all the charges and released from detention after seven years.

"I don't understand what the prosecution is trying to do! Put me in triple jeopardy after nearly 7 years in unjust detention? Hindi na lang katawa-tawa ang ginagawa nila, nakakagalit na," she said on Tuesday, July 15.

[Translation: What they did is not just silly, but also enraging.]

In separate statements on Wednesday, the Makabayan bloc condemned the prosecutors’ move against de Lima and the supposed harassment suits against former lawmakers France Castro and Satur Ocampo.

"These cases expose the systematic weaponization of our justice system against those who dare to challenge the status quo," ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said. "Ang ginagawa ng gobyerno ay isang malinaw na pag-atake sa lahat ng tumutol sa kanilang mga maling patakaran."

[Translation: What the government is doing is a clear attack against every one who goes against their wrong rules.]

“This (is) the real witch hunt,” Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said. “Si VP (Vice President) Sara (Duterte) na limpak-limpak na ang ebidensiya sa korapsyon, gusto pang isalba sa paglilitis ng impeachment court. These are gnarly double standards.”

READ: Duterte impeachment has basis, not ‘witch hunt’ - lawmakers

[Translation: The government wants to spare Vice President Sara, despite mounds of corruption evidence, from impeachment trial.]

In a chance interview, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said there was a decision on the case.

"I think she was still acquitted by the court," he said.

Last May, a Court of Appeals division nullified the acquittal of de Lima and Dayan in one of the drug cases over a recanted statement that led to the dismissal of charges.