KAREN Bordador had a thriving career as a radio DJ, host, and model when everything came to an abrupt halt in 2016. In August that year, she and her boyfriend Emilio Lim got arrested during a buy-bust operation in Pasig City. Both were detained and charged with possession and sale of illegal drugs.
But Bordador insisted on her innocence and claimed that she was merely visiting the condominium unit where about P3 million worth of ecstasy, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were confiscated. She has since been detained at the Pasig City jail while her case dragged into the courts.
In June this year, Bordador and Lim were found not guilty.
In her decision, Judge Maria Paz Reyes-Yson ordered the immediate release of the defendants because witness testimonies contradicted the footage captured on CCTV cameras that were presented in court.
In a news release issued by her camp over two months since the acquittal, Bordador said she became an advocate for PDLs or persons deprived of liberty.
“Being imprisoned for many years, I have fully experienced the life of the disadvantaged,” she said. “I decided to act as a spokesperson while behind bars for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. I did my best to communicate to the jail officers the needs of fellow PDLs, as well as how to improve the rehabilitation programs and facilities.
“I never lost hope and remained a dreamer throughout my detention,” she added.
Bordador intends to share her experiences while in detention online. She has since launched her website, where she has been sharing personal reflections of what life was like behind bars. She also uploaded her first video on YouTube detailing what it was like when she was finally released from the Pasig City Jail.(Esquire)
