Senate President Chiz Escudero Speaks on Leila de Lima’s Legal Victory
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President reacted to the legal victory of former Senator Leila de Lima whose last drug case as dismissed.
For more than six (6) years, former Senator Leila de Lima was detained at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police. Her detention was due to the drug charges filed against her.
De Lima was accused of being allegedly involved in the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was the Justice Secretary. The former Senator was the head of the Department of Justice during the term of the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
In 2016, De Lima ran for a seat in the Senate and secured a post. However, in February 2017, a warrant of arrest was released against the then Senator over the drug allegations.
Former Sen. Leila de Lima denied the allegations against her. She continued serving as a lawmaker and remained a staunch critic of the Duterte administration even during her retention.
In the previous months, the drug cases against De Lima were dismissed one-by-one. The witnesses who pinned down former Sen. De Lima also recanted their testimonies. Recently, the Court dismissed the final and the last of the drug charges filed against the former Senator.
The U.S. welcomed the acquittal of the case against former Sen. Leila De Lima. Several national leaders also expressed their appreciation of the Philippine Court’s decision. Based on a report on GMA News, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also reacted to the legal victory of the former Senator.
According to Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, he congratulates former Sen. De Lima not only for getting justice but for “facing her accusers head-on and following and believing in the rule of law, however unfair it may have looked upon her at that time”.
Furthermore, based on the report, the Senate President also expressed that she is proud of the resilience of the former Senator who is her fellow Bicolano as well as her unwavering faith in God and in truth.