CTTO/ ABS-CBN News/File
Manila, Philippines – The recent dismissal of former Senator Leila De Lima’s final drug case underscores the effectiveness of the Philippine judicial system, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared on Thursday. He suggested this outcome as evidence for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider, asserting that the judiciary and investigative services are functioning properly.
“Maybe this is something we should show the ICC. The Judiciary is working properly. Our investigative services are working properly and former Senator De Lima has been acquitted,” Marcos stated to reporters.
On Monday, a Muntinlupa court granted De Lima’s demurrer to evidence in her third and last drug case. These cases, initiated during the Duterte administration, were widely regarded as politically motivated, targeting De Lima for her outspoken criticism of Duterte’s harsh anti-drug campaign.
The ICC is currently investigating the drug war, which human rights groups claim has resulted in thousands of deaths among suspected drug users.
In response to her acquittal, De Lima expressed her intention to assist the ICC in its investigation and called on the Marcos administration to cooperate, including the potential enforcement of an arrest warrant for Duterte.
However, President Marcos reaffirmed his stance that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines.
“(De Lima) has said that she would like to help the ICC. But that’s between her and the ICC. We still stay with our position that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the PH because we have a working police force, we have a working judiciary and do not require any assistance in that regard,” he said.
Before her arrest, De Lima had spent a decade investigating alleged extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte. She was arrested in 2017 and spent over six years in detention. Now 64, De Lima vows to hold Duterte accountable for the drug war deaths and her imprisonment.
“This is my message to the former president, Mr Duterte: Now it’s your turn to answer for your sins against the people,” De Lima declared.
De Lima was released on bail in November last year after being cleared of two other drug charges. The final case involved accusations of accepting money from inmates to facilitate drug trading while she was justice minister from 2010-2015.
“The prosecution was not able to prove the guilt of all the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” regional trial court judge Gener Gito stated in his verdict, acquitting De Lima and four other defendants of illegal drug trading.