Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
'Justice is finally prevailing': Hontiveros, other senators hail de Lima's acquittal
Philippines
National
'Justice is finally prevailing': Hontiveros, other senators hail de Lima's acquittal
'Justice is finally prevailing': Hontiveros, other senators hail de Lima's acquittal
Published May 12, 2023 05:49 am
Though the course is long, justice is finally prevailing.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, a fellow opposition lawmaker, made the remark following former Senator Leila de Lima’s acquittal in the second drug charges that was filed against her.
“I am happy that my friend and colleague former Senator Leila de Lima has been acquitted, and anticipate her full vindication and eventual liberty,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“The false narrative and web of lies that led to her imprisonment is finally being undone. The real crime has always been her arrest. She is owed a speedy acquittal from the final false charge against her after enduring so much for 6 long years,” the lawmaker further said.
But she said justice for the ex-senator, a vocal critic of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, will be completed when the sinister plot to put her in jail only for speaking out for the truth and welfare of our fellow Filipinos, is fully exposed in daylight.
“May this pave the road to justice for all victims of the War on Drugs and sound the death knell for this inhuman policy,” she said.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also hailed the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court’s decision.
“Congratulations to the court for being true to its mandate to dispense justice without fear or favor,” Pimentel said.
Sen. Imee Marcos also said that though she has not read the decision, she is certain there was basis for the court to issue the ruling.
“Our judiciary exercises their own rights and independence…They are independent branch of government and the legislature should not meddle with what they are doing,” Marcos said in an interview.
Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan also welcomed the development.
“Even as it has come more than six years after her imprisonment on fabricated and baseless accusations, we nevertheless welcome the Court’s verdict,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
“Mula unang araw palang ng kanyang pagkulong ang posisyon natin ay gawa gawa lamang ang mga paratang at walang katiting na tunay na ebidensya laban kay Leila. Ang ebidensya lahat fabricated (From the first day of her detention, our position is that the allegations are made up and there is no real evidence against Leila. The evidence is all fabricated),” Pangilinan said.
“We have from Day 1 called for the dismissal of the charges but as the saying goes ‘better late than never’. The fight for justice, for the truth continues. Free Leila!” he added.
For his part, Sen. Richard Gordon, called for a speedy trial for the former lawmaker, saying her more than six years’ incarceration pending final judgment is a violation of the constitutional guarantee to a speedy disposition of cases.
Gordon said the slow pace of the proceedings against de Lima is a violation of her Constitutional right.
“Former Senator De Lima’s case should proceed speedily. More than six years of imprisonment would already constitute a violation of her right to a speedy disposition of her case,” Gordon said in a separate statement. (With Mario Casayuran)
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, a fellow opposition lawmaker, made the remark following former Senator Leila de Lima’s acquittal in the second drug charges that was filed against her.
“I am happy that my friend and colleague former Senator Leila de Lima has been acquitted, and anticipate her full vindication and eventual liberty,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
“The false narrative and web of lies that led to her imprisonment is finally being undone. The real crime has always been her arrest. She is owed a speedy acquittal from the final false charge against her after enduring so much for 6 long years,” the lawmaker further said.
But she said justice for the ex-senator, a vocal critic of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, will be completed when the sinister plot to put her in jail only for speaking out for the truth and welfare of our fellow Filipinos, is fully exposed in daylight.
“May this pave the road to justice for all victims of the War on Drugs and sound the death knell for this inhuman policy,” she said.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also hailed the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court’s decision.
“Congratulations to the court for being true to its mandate to dispense justice without fear or favor,” Pimentel said.
Sen. Imee Marcos also said that though she has not read the decision, she is certain there was basis for the court to issue the ruling.
“Our judiciary exercises their own rights and independence…They are independent branch of government and the legislature should not meddle with what they are doing,” Marcos said in an interview.
Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan also welcomed the development.
“Even as it has come more than six years after her imprisonment on fabricated and baseless accusations, we nevertheless welcome the Court’s verdict,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
“Mula unang araw palang ng kanyang pagkulong ang posisyon natin ay gawa gawa lamang ang mga paratang at walang katiting na tunay na ebidensya laban kay Leila. Ang ebidensya lahat fabricated (From the first day of her detention, our position is that the allegations are made up and there is no real evidence against Leila. The evidence is all fabricated),” Pangilinan said.
“We have from Day 1 called for the dismissal of the charges but as the saying goes ‘better late than never’. The fight for justice, for the truth continues. Free Leila!” he added.
For his part, Sen. Richard Gordon, called for a speedy trial for the former lawmaker, saying her more than six years’ incarceration pending final judgment is a violation of the constitutional guarantee to a speedy disposition of cases.
Gordon said the slow pace of the proceedings against de Lima is a violation of her Constitutional right.
“Former Senator De Lima’s case should proceed speedily. More than six years of imprisonment would already constitute a violation of her right to a speedy disposition of her case,” Gordon said in a separate statement. (With Mario Casayuran)