Palace: De Lima given due process in drug cases

Sen. Leila De Lima leaves the New Bilibid Prison court in Muntinlupa City on the afternoon March 6, 2018.

Office of Secretary Leila de Lima / Released, file

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Leila De Lima has been afforded due process in drug charges she is being tried for, the Palace said Tuesday after presidential candidates over the weekend commented on her detention since 2017.

De Lima, an outspoken critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, previously lauded Vice President Leni Robredo and labor leader Leody De Guzman for speaking out against her detention. She has repeatedly denied involvement in the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison and has said the cases against her are politically motivated.

"While we respect the opinions of the presidentiables who gave their stance on Senator De Lima’s detention, we have to underscore that the senator has been accorded due process in all stages of her criminal prosecution," Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement shared by state-run media PTV4 on Twitter.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/05/2172446/palace-de-lima-given-due-process-drug-cases