Don’t celebrate; you’re still in prison, Palace tells de Lima

MANILA – Detained Senator Leila de Lima has no reason to celebrate the dismissal of one of the three drug cases filed against her by the government because she is still in jail, Malacañang said on Thursday.

In a virtual presser, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reminded de Lima that she is still facing two drug-related charges.

“Nakakulong pa rin siya at siya’y nakakulong pa rin kasi mayroon pa siyang dalawang kaso. So bakit po siya magsi-celebrate eh nandoon pa rin siya sa selda niya (She’s still in jail and she is still in jail because she still has two pending cases. So why should she celebrate when she’s still in her jail cell)?” Roque said.

De Lima has filed a demurrer to evidence in two cases of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading before Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205.

A demurrer to evidence challenges the legal sufficiency of a case because of weak prosecution evidence and seeks the outright dismissal of the complaint.

Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 Judge Liezel Aquiatan on Wednesday acquitted de Lima in one of the three drug cases.

In junking the case, Aquiatan said the prosecution “failed to elicit strong evidence to sustain a finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt” on the part of de Lima.

However, Aquiatan denied de Lima’s bid to junk the drug case against her and her former aide Ronnie Dayan.

De Lima, in a statement, considered as a “moral victory” the acquittal of her drug case under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The senator is facing a third drug case before Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256.

She is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City.