ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider De Lima recalls 2017 arrest for drug charges: Vindictive forces silenced my voice

De Lima recalls 2017 arrest for drug charges: Vindictive forces silenced my voice

Published Feb 25, 2024 01:16 pm

Former senator Leila de Lima recalled her arrest in February 2017 on drug charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Duterte administration. 

“Seven years ago, vindictive forces silenced my voice, orchestrating my arrest on fabricated charges. Yet, the pain of that injustice is eclipsed by the immense gratitude for finally being free. My release is a testament to the enduring power of truth and the unwavering pursuit of justice,” said De Lima in a statement issued on Feb. 24. 

DL4.JPG

Police waiting for the arrival of then Senator Leila de Lima at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice on Feb. 24, 2017 (Jonathan Hicap)DL2.JPGSupporters of then Senator Leila de Lima at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice on Feb. 24, 2017 (Jonathan Hicap) 
 

DL1A.JPG

Then Senator Leila de Lima, escorted by the police, waves to the media as she leaves the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice for her detention at Camp Crame (Jonathan Hicap) 

The DOJ filed three cases for illegal drug trading against De Lima and others on Feb. 17, 2017 before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa. 

De Lima was a senator when the drug cases were filed against her. 

On Feb. 23, 2017, Judge Juanita Guerrero of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 found probable cause to issue warrants of arrest against De Lima, former National Bureau of Investigation deputy director Rafael Ragos and Ronnie Dayan. 

On the same day, Guerrero issued a warrant of arrest with no bail recommended against De Lima. 

“After a careful evaluation of the herein information and all the evidence presented during the preliminary investigation conducted in this case by the Department of Justice, Manila, the Court finds sufficient probable cause for the issuance of Warrants of Arrest against all the accused Leila M. De Lima, Rafael Marcos Z. Ragos and Ronnie Palisoc Dayan. Wherefore, let Warrants of Arrest be issued against the above-mentioned accused,” Guerrero’s order read.  

Guerrero handled case 17-165 which accused De Lima of getting P10 million in 2012, which supposedly came from the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa. 

On Feb. 24, 2017, De Lima was served the warrant of arrest at the Senate. She was brought to the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204. 

The court ordered her detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Service Unit in Camp Crame. 

The DOJ later changed the charges from illegal drug trading to conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading. 

De Lima was detained for more than six years until she was released on Nov. 13 when a judge granted her bail in the last remaining drug case she is facing.  

In a decision dated Nov. 10 under case no. 17-167 and announced on Nov. 13, Presiding Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 granted bail amounting to P300,000 each to De Lima former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez and Jose Adrian Dera. 

After the decision was released, De Lima posted bail of P300,000. 

DL_NoelPabalate2.jpg

Former senator Leila de Lima waves on Nov. 13, 2023, the day of her release from detention at Camp Crame (Noel Pabalate)

In her statement, De Lima said, “But my freedom, while cherished, is not the end of the struggle. Injustice continues to cast a long shadow over our nation, its darkness deepened by the countless Filipinos who perished in the brutal war on drugs. Their stories cry out for justice, yet accountability remains an elusive dream. Those responsible walk free, shielded by impunity, while families mourn and communities bear the scars of a senseless tragedy. This cannot be our reality.”

“I am a symbol of past injustice, hoping for a future where accountability reigns. My fight for justice does not end with my release. It continues, fuelled by the memory of the innocent lost and the yearning for a nation where human rights are respected, power is wielded responsibly, and justice prevails,” she said. 

Two of De Lima’s cases were dismissed by courts. Case 17-166 was dismissed by a Muntinlupa court in February 2021 when it granted De Lima’s demurrer to evidence, which is “tantamount to her acquittal.” 

In May 2023, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 found De Lima not guilty in case 17-165. The only remaining case is 17-167 pending before the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206. 

Related Tags

Muntinlupa City Leila de Lima metronews
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.