Leila de Lima, a prominent critic of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs,” has been granted bail after enduring over six years in detention on what rights groups denounce as unfounded charges.
Amidst cheers from supporters chanting “Justice” and “Leila will soon be free,” the former senator and human rights commissioner, aged 64, emerged from court on Monday. In the midst of media attention and police escorts, she expressed her sentiments, stating, “For years, my whole being has been crying out for justice and freedom… For more than six long years, I’ve been praying, praying so hard for this day to come.”
De Lima was arrested in 2017, mere months after initiating a senate inquiry into Duterte’s aggressive anti-drug campaign, currently under investigation by the international criminal court. Accused by Duterte of receiving payoffs from drug gangs during her tenure as justice minister, she faced three drug-related charges, two of which have been dismissed. De Lima consistently maintained her innocence.
On Monday, bail was granted in the final pending case, a plea she made on health grounds.
UN human rights experts and the European Parliament have long advocated for her release, and witnesses who testified against her have since recanted their statements.
De Lima, characterized as the most prominent political prisoner under Duterte’s administration, asserted that the charges were an act of revenge by Duterte, whom she labeled as “a murderer and a sociopathic serial killer” at the time of her arrest. As chair of the National Commission on Human Rights, she had previously sought to expose killings by “death squads” in Davao City during Duterte’s tenure as mayor.
During her imprisonment, De Lima continued her work as a senator, issuing handwritten statements from detention, often criticizing Duterte’s governance. Her inability to campaign in the 2022 election resulted in an unsuccessful bid for a senate position.
Acknowledging her legal team and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, De Lima thanked those who respected “the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.” Marcos has previously expressed unwillingness to cooperate with an ICC investigation into drug war killings.
Between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed in connection with anti-drugs operations from July 2016 to March 2019, according to ICC data. Government figures provide lower estimates, stating at least 6,252 people were killed in police operations between July 2016 and May 2022.
