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Rights group Karapatan commends acquittal of de Lima

Philippines | National

Rights group Karapatan commends acquittal of de Lima

By Charie Mae F. Abarca

Human rights group Karapatan on Friday, May 12 lauded the acquittal of former Senator Leila de Lima. De Lima, who has been detained for six years, was accused of being involved in a drug trade and was arrested in 2017. The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Friday acquitted the former Senator in one of her two remaining drug charges.

Former Senator Leila de Lima (Manila Bulletin File Photo)
“[She] has been detained and pilloried by the Duterte administration, but she remained firm and steadfast in speaking out against Duterte’s crimes,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay in a statement. “We call on the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256 to grant her bail petition to enable her release,” Palabay added. Apart from welcoming de Lima’s acquittal, Karapatan also demanded the release of all political prisoners in the Philippines. Earlier in March, the organization said there are 819 political prisoners across the archipelago.

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