Former senator Leila de Lima, together with friends, family, supporters and political leaders, attended a Thanksgiving Mass held for her release from detention at the EDSA Shrine on Nov. 24.
Dubbed as "Pasasalamat para sa Paglaya ni former Senator De Lima", the Mass was attended by former senator Francis Pangilinan, Ging Deles, Vicboy de Lima, De Lima’s eldest son Israel Bohol, and Ronald Llamas.
Former senator Leila de Lima at the Thanksgiving Mass at the EDSA Shrine on Nov. 24 (Photos from office of De Lima)
Bishop Teodoro Bacani was the main celebrant at the Thanksgiving Mass.
In her speech, De Lima said, “I’ve always considered myself a very strong-willed person. But in detention, I discovered within myself a resilience or strength which I never knew I could still possess.”
“I learned to cherish small blessings in life. To find joy in the simplest moments and to appreciate the unwavering support of my family and friends, and most of all, my faith in God,” she said.
After six years and eight months, De Lima was released from detention at Camp Crame on Nov. 13 when Presiding Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 granted bail amounting to P300,000 each to her, former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez and Jose Adrian Dera.
“Wherefore, premises considered, the respective Motions for Reconsideration of the concerned accused are granted. Thus, the Order of the Court dated June 07, 2023, is reconsidered. Consequently, accused De Lima, Bucayu, Dayan, Sanchez and Dera are allowed to post bail in the amount of three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) each,” the court decision read.
They are accused of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading under 17-167, the last remaining drug case De Lima is facing.
The DOJ charged that between March 2013 to May 2015, the accused used inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa to sell and trade dangerous drugs using mobile phones and other electronic devices, and allegedly got the proceeds amounting to P70 million.
The trial will continue at the Muntinlupa court.
Recently, seven persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who testified against De Lima in court wrote a letter that they are going to recant their statements against her.