On Monday, Vice President Leni Robredo asked authorities to free Senator Leila de Lima promptly after key witnesses in drug charges against her recanted their accounts.
Robredo, who is running for president in the May 9 elections, stressed the absence of documentation evidence supporting De Lima’s alleged involvement in the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison in a statement (NBP).
“Mahigit limang taon nang nakakulong si Senator Leila de Lima, pero kahit isang gramo ng ilegal na droga, kahit isang pahina ng documentary evidence, walang naihain laban sa kanya. Ngayon, pati ang mga testimonyang ginamit na batayan ng pagpapakulong kay Sen. Leila ay isa-isa nang binabawi ng mga nagbigay nito,” Robredo said.
(Senator Leila de Lima has been incarcerated for more than five years, but not even a gram of illegal drugs, not even a page of documentary evidence, has been filed against her. Now, as well as the testimonies used as the basis for the imprisonment of Sen. Leila are being reclaimed one by one by its givers.)
According to Robredo, De Lima was only punished because of her critiques of the present administration.
Leni Robredo calls to free Leila De Lima
“Patunay lang ito ng katotohanang matagal ko nang iginigiit: Walang kaso laban kay Sen Leila de Lima. Ang tanging kasalanan niya ay ang magsabi ng totoo at ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng mga kapwa natin Pilipino,” she said.
(This is just proof of the fact I have long insisted: There is no case against Sen. Leila de Lima. His only sin is to tell the truth and defend the rights of our fellow Filipinos.)
“Wala nang dahilan para manatili sa piitan si Sen Leila. Dapat na siyang palayain sa lalong madaling panahon. Kaisa ko ang bawat Pilipinong naniniwala sa hustisya sa panawagan: Free Leila now,” Robredo added.
(There is no reason for Sen Leila to stay in jail. She should be released soon. I join every Filipino who believes in justice in the call: Free Leila now.)
Leila De Lima is running for reelection on Robredo’s ticket in the May 9 elections.
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