Leila De Lima Fights DOJ’s Attempt to Reverse Acquittal
LEILA DE LIMA – Nearly seven years after her detention, Leila de Lima is not backing down—now threatening legal action against DOJ prosecutors for reviving what she calls a baseless case.
Mamamayang Liberal party-list Representative Leila de Lima is considering legal action against prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their recent attempt to challenge her acquittal in her drug-related cases. Her lawyer, Dino de Leon, shared this development in an interview on Storycon aired by One News.
De Leon condemned the DOJ’s move, describing it as an “abuse” of the country’s legal system. “This is now the most expensive frame-up in Philippine history, and it is time to hold the panel of prosecutors accountable,” he said, referring to the action as “third jeopardy.”
He also stressed that such a motion goes against established legal procedures. “Even a first-year law student knows that an acquittal is not a subject of a motion for reconsideration. That is explicitly prohibited in the rules of criminal procedure.”
De Leon raised concerns about whether proper authorization had been secured from the prosecutor general or the Office of the Solicitor General before the motion was filed. “This is clearly a violation of our oath. This is, to us, prosecutorial misconduct,” he said. “And they’re leaving (former) senator Leila de Lima without any other recourse but to pursue charges against them.”
De Lima herself voiced strong disapproval over the DOJ’s actions. “I don’t understand what the prosecution is trying to do! Put me in triple jeopardy after nearly 7 years in unjust detention? What they’re doing is not funny. It’s infuriating.”
The DOJ’s move has drawn sharp reactions from lawmakers and activist groups. The Makabayan bloc labeled it a “real witch hunt.” Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co remarked, “It has been proven twice in court that the case against De Lima is trumped up to silence her because of her investigation of Duterte’s fake drug war.”
Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also slammed the motion, viewing it as a form of political retaliation. “Instead of taking accountability and moving to correct this historic injustice, the DOJ now seeks to prolong De Lima’s ordeal,” said Bayan chairman Teodoro Casiño.
As public outcry grows, many continue to demand that the courts uphold De Lima’s acquittal and urge the Marcos administration to put an end to the persecution of dissenting voices.
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