A Philippine court has dropped charges against one of the most vocal critics of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs,” ending a long legal battle that saw the former senator detained for more than six years in police custody.
Opposition figure Leila De Lima, who was released on bail last November after being acquitted of two charges, was cleared of a third and final charge on Monday (24), her lawyer told state broadcaster PTV.
The charges stemmed from Duterte’s allegations that De Lima had received bribes from convicted drug gangs to finance his 2016 Senate bid.
More than 6,000 people were killed in anti-drug operations during Duterte’s term as president from 2016 to 2022, according to police data. Many of the extrajudicial executions of alleged drug offenders have occurred in the poorest areas of the country – and independent monitors believe the number of people killed could be much higher.
Human rights activists have long criticized De Lima’s indictment and long detention, pointing out that she was kept in a police cell despite not having been convicted of any charges.
They say their treatment is emblematic of the deteriorating rights situation in a country where political activists and the media often face threats, harassment and even death for trying to keep those in power in check.
On Monday, supporters who gathered in front of the court in the city of Muntinlupa shouted: “Leila is free,” according to a live-streamed video posted on her official Facebook page.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, De Lima said Duterte would be held accountable for the “sins committed” against Filipinos.
“I’m just one of the victims. Thousands of Filipinos were murdered during the bloody and false ‘war on drugs’. Many families have lost loved ones,” she said.
“Those who were not killed were left languishing in prison because of the incorrect and distorted application of the law. I am one of those who suffered unjust imprisonment.”
During his tenure as president, Duterte has repeatedly said that killings of suspected drug traffickers are legal if police act in self-defense. He had previously admitted to killing suspected drug traffickers during his time as mayor of Davao City.
In July last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected an appeal by the Philippine government to block a prosecutors’ investigation into Duterte’s drug war.
An ICC judge said the rejection by the Hague-based court meant the Philippines had exhausted its appeal options.
The administration of Duterte and his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., reacted to the ICC investigation, denouncing the investigations as unfair.
The Philippines was previously a signatory to the ICC, but Duterte canceled the country’s membership after the court began investigating his war on drugs.
But under the ICC’s withdrawal mechanism, the court retains jurisdiction over crimes committed during a state’s period of accession – in this case, between 2016 and 2019, when the Philippines’ withdrawal became official.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
