‘Acquittal is Duterte’s success’
You are right, this is a success. But not your success rather success of the rule of law, due process, and most importantly the success of the Duterte administration
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo on Thursday countered Senator Leila de Lima’s claim on Thursday that the dismissal of one of three drug charges against her counts as her victory under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Panelo, in his daily online program, “Counterpoint”, said contrary to De Lima’s claim, it was a success of the rule of law and due process.
“You are right, this is a success. But not your success rather the success of the rule of law, due process and most importantly success of the Duterte administration,” he said.
Panelo dismissed De Lima’s claim that the President was behind all the drug charges filed against her, saying that if it is really true, the President could simply ask the judge for a guilty sentence.
“If we will follow the logic of De Lima’s camp that the President was behind all of the charges that were filed against her, (she) will be sentenced as guilty and will not be acquitted,” he said.
De Lima, a staunch critic of President Duterte on Wednesday was acquitted by a Muntinlupa City court in one of the three drug cases filed against her in connection with her alleged involvement in the promotion of illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison.
The senator who has been detained since 2017 was accused of allegedly pocketing payoffs from drug lords when she was still the justice secretary to raise money for her senatorial campaign in 2016.
She denied the charges and insisted that they were politically motivated.