Court acquits Duterte critic of drugs charge

MANILA: Ametromanilaregionalcourthasacquited an opposition senator and staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte of drug charges filed against her for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy with convicted drug lords to promote the contraband at the national penitentiary,

In the acquital decision, the court based in suburban Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila granted the demurrer of Senator Leila de Lima which questioned the evidence presented against her by government prosecutors during the trial.

Legal experts explained a demurrer is a motion to dismiss a case on grounds that the evidence presented by the prosecution is insufficient for a criminal conviction. Once granted, it is considered an acquital by the court.

De Lima’s acquital was one of the three separate but related criminal charges filed against her by the Duterte administration before the regional courts for her alleged involvement with convicted Filipino and Chinese drug lords serving time at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

Government prosecutors accused De Lima of receiving at least $100,000 in “protection money” from the drug lords so they could continue their illegal trade even while inside the prison.

In a statement read by her lead counsel Boni Tacardon during a press briefing late on Wednesday night, De Lima, a former justice secretary during the term of then president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, said in Filipino: “To be acquited even in just one case in the time of Duterte is a victory.”

The outspoken senator accused Duterte of instigating the “trumped up charges” against her in retaliation for her investigation into alleged rampant human rights violations in the president’s bloody and violent war on illegal drugs.

Butevenwithheracquital,delimawouldremain under detention in a special Philippine National Police facility which will mark her fourth year in what she called her “unjust detention” on Feb.24.

Despite her detention which prevented her from actively participating in Senate sessions, De Lima said she would continue work in the chamber, authoring bills and pushing her advocacy, especially on human right as well as the protection of democracy and rule of law.