MANILA – Former senator Leila de Lima was released yesterday afternoon after nearly seven years of detention for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.
De Lima was allowed temporary liberty by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 that granted her petition for bail.
“Six years, eight months, and 21 days after I peaceably surrendered myself to authorities, it is one of my greatest achievements in my career and in my life,” de Lima said in a press conference early last night.
“Not only did I survive all these years of persecution and unjust detention, I came out stronger than ever. But the one thing I can honestly say that I never allowed myself to entertain: any regret,” she added.
De Lima was granted bail in the amount of P300,000, as were her co-accused, former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Bucayu, former aides Ronnie Dayan and Joenel Sanchez, and alleged bagman Jose Adrian Dera.
In assessing the totality of the evidence presented by the prosecution, the Court is of the view that the accused should be allowed to post bail as the prosecution was not able to discharge its burden of establishing that the guilt of the said accused is strong.
“The case is still pending, hindi pa po tapos. This is bail, it’s provisional liberty, and this is definitely a great gift from the Almighty God,” de Lima said. “This is vindication. And I will further work for complete vindication kasi hindi pa nga tapos ang kasong ito.”
The former senator and former Justice secretary was arrested in 2017 for drug allegations. De Lima maintained her innocence and repeatedly denied the accusations against her.
Three drug charges have been filed against de Lima before separate Muntinlupa City RTC branches, and she has already been cleared from two out of the three cases.
De Lima’s first acquittal came in February 2021. The Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205 junked the case.
The second acquittal was last May 12 on the grounds of reasonable doubt.
“I want people to know the truth of my innocence. I want people to know how it happened. I want people to know who are behind it,” de Lima said.
She added: “This is my opportunity because, you know, they destroyed my life. And that’s why I’m going to rebuild my life now.”
“My fight for my advocacies will continue – and my advocacies are really shared by the opposition. Fight for truth, fight for justice, for rule of law, fight for democracy, fight for sovereignty. And definitely I’ll be working side by side with the opposition. I remain to be an opposition,” said de Lima./PN
