The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Saturday stated it welcomes a Muntinlupa court docket’s resolution to acquit former senator and CHR chairperson Leila de Lima on her second drug case because it expressed hope a bail petition for a 3rd case be granted.
“CHR welcomes the progress on the case as it demonstrates the commitment of the judiciary to the rule of law and justice. In light of this development that upholds the innocence of former Senator de Lima on two out of three drug cases, the Commission equally hopes for the swift decision of the Court on the application of bail on her remaining case,” it stated in a press release.
The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 on Thursday acquitted De Lima and Ronnie Dayan, her co-accused and former bodyguard, of an unlawful drug buying and selling cost on the bottom of affordable doubt.
De Lima, who has been detained in Camp Crame since February 2017, was accused of benefiting financially from the alleged unlawful drug commerce contained in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) throughout her stint as Justice secretary to help her senatorial bid in 2016.
Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Rafael Ragos had claimed that he and aide Jovencio Ablen Jr. delivered P5 million in proceeds from the unlawful drug commerce contained in the NBP to De Lima’s home in Parañaque City in 2012. However, in May 2022, Ragos retracted his testimony towards De Lima.
The court docket acknowledged that although the prosecution was capable of set up the existence of rampant unlawful drug buying and selling on the NBP, the retraction of Ragos forged affordable doubt on De Lima and Dayan’s involvement in it.
De Lima remains to be dealing with another case on the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256, the place she has sought to publish bail and is awaiting the choice of the court docket.
Her lawyer, Atty. Filibon Tacardon, on Saturday stated they’re hoping that the court docket will grant the bail petition for this prison case no. 167.
“Sa pangatlong kaso po, meron pong nakasalang na application for bail si Senator Leila de Lima at hinihintay na lamang namin ang korte na magdesisyon,” Tacardon stated in an interview on Dobol B TV.
(In the third case, Senator Leila de Lima has a pending utility for bail and we’re simply awaiting the court docket’s resolution.)
He added that on June 5, the prosecution or Department of Justice will current the proof obtained within the case. Tacardon stated that often, the court docket would problem a choice on a bail petition previous to presentation of proof.
Meanwhile, De Lima and her supporters celebrated her acquittal with a small salo-salo (meal) on the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, Tacardon added.
In February 2021, the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205 junked one of many three drug circumstances towards De Lima, who has repeatedly denied the fees filed by the Duterte administration. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
