Former senator Leila de Lima said she is adjusting to normal life after being detained for six years and eight months. 

De Lima was released from Camp Crame on Nov. 13 after being in detention since Feb. 24, 2017 due to a warrant of arrest issued by a Muntinlupa judge regarding one of the three drug cases filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Duterte administration. 

Former senator Leila de Lima at Camp Crame on Nov. 13 (Noel Pabalate)

Former senator Leila de Lima with her mother on Nov. 15 in Iriga City (Photo courtesy of the office of Leila de Lima)

Presiding Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 granted her bail amounting to P300,000 in the last remaining drug case she is facing. 

In an interview with Manila Bulletin, De Lima said she has not fully adjusted to resuming her daily life. 

“Nakakapagod. Nag-a-adjust pa talaga ako. Di pa ako fully adjusted (It’s tiring. I’m still adjusting. I have not fully adjusted),” said De Lima. 

She said this was because she was used to spending time in a small space at her detention cell in Camp Crame. 

“Then all of a sudden, na-expose na ako sa tunay na mundo, sa traffic, and then maraming tao. Nakakapanibago. Kasi nung una mag-isa lang ako. Siyempre walang substittute dun sa feeling of happiness talaga, yung tuwang-tuwa and the trimphant feeling na finally yung pinakahihintay ko nangyari na (Then all of a sudden, I was exposed to the real world, to traffic, and then there are so many people. It’s refreshing. Because before I was alone. But, of course, there is no substitute to the feeling of happiness, that I’m so happy and the triumphant feeling that finally what I had been waiting for happened),” she said. 

One of the first things that De Lima did upon release was to visit her 91-year-old ailing mother,  Norma Magistrado de Lima, in Iriga City in Camarines Sur last Nov. 15. 

De Lima said her mother was so happy to see her. 

“Leila, nandito ka na. Hay salamat naman (Leila, you’re here. I’m thankful),” her mother told her when she first saw her. 

She said her mother did not know and was never told that she was detained in order for her not to worry. Her family told her mother that she was in the US to study. 

According to the former senator and justice secretary, her mother told her not to leave her anymore. She is planning to visit her again in December. 

De Lima said the worst part of being detained alone for more than six years was she always thought of her family and friends, especially those who had passed away. 

“Malungkot na malungkot ako kapag may sad news na nakakarating sa akin (I would feel very said when sad news would reach me),” she said. 

But she said in general, she fought off depression by making it a point that she would have something to do in detention. 

“Whether physically may ginagawa ako, nagbabasa, nagdadasal, nagsusulat, kumakain, umiinom ng tubig and then nakikilaro sa mga pusa ko (Whether physically I’m doing something, reading, praying, writing, eating, drinking water or playing with my cats),” she said. 

About her political plans, De Lima said she could not answer it at the moment. 

“Di ko pa masasagot yan. Honestly, marami pa akong inaasikaso sa buhay ko, sa personal, sa family (I cannot answer it right now, Honestly, I have so many things to do in my life, in my personal [life), in my family),” said De Lima.