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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Prosecutors withdraw motion to reconsider De Lima's acquittal on illegal drugs charges

Prosecutors withdraw motion to reconsider De Lima's acquittal on illegal drugs charges

Published Jul 23, 2025 07:43 pm
A panel of government prosecutors filed with the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) a motion to withdraw the government’s appeal on the acquittal of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-List Rep. Leila de Lima on illegal drugs charges.
In its motion dated July 23, 2025, the panel said that “after consultation and upon instructions of the Honorable Prosecutor General, most respectfully moves for the withdrawal of the Motion for Reconsideration dated 14 July 2025 that was filed on even date.”
The motion to withdraw was signed by Provincial Prosecutor Ramoncito Bienvenido T. Ocampo Jr., City Prosecutor Blas Antonio M. Tuliao, City Prosecutor Laurence Joel M. Taliping, Deputy City Prosecutor Leilia R. Llanes, Deputy City Prosecutor Evangeline P. Viudez-Canobas, Deputy City Prosecutor Darwin G. Canete, Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Rudy B. Ricamora Jr., Senior Assistant City Prosecutor John Quincy D. Carandang, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell P. Bendoval, and Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Alfre Joseph T. Jamora.
The July 14 motion for reconsideration asked the RTC to reverse the June 27 decision that acquitted De Lima and her co-accused, Ronnie Dayan, of illegal drugs trading under Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Case records show that De Lima and Dayan were accused of having received a total of P10 million in 2012 out of the proceeds from illegal drugs trading of imprisoned drug traders in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
The RTC issued the June 27 decision in compliance with the April 30 Court of Appeals (CA) ruling that declared null and void the Muntinlupa court’s May 12, 2023 decision that acquitted De Lima and Dayan.
The CA, in remanding the case to the RTC, explained that “no decision shall be rendered by any court without expressing therein clearly and distinctly the facts and the law on which it is based.”
Earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it will no longer appeal De Lima’s acquittal and will withdraw its motion for reconsideration earlier filed by prosecutors.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said the DOJ decision was reached following talks with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.
“It should not have been filed in the first place,” said Fadullon about the motion for reconsideration which violates the prohibition against double jeopardy.
He clarified, however, that the decision to no longer appeal and to withdraw the earlier motion was not prompted by De Lima’s calls not to appeal her acquittal but “an initiative on the part of the DOJ.”
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