Senator Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The international human rights advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging all candidates running for president in the upcoming polls to press for the release of detained Senator Leila de Lima.
De Lima is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City since February 2017, over what she described as “trumped-up” drug charges against her.
“Candidates for the Philippines presidency should pledge to drop all charges against Senator Leila de Lima,” the HRW said in a statement on Tuesday.
De Lima has been acquitted in one of the three drug cases filed against her.
Of all the presidential candidates, only Vice President Leni Robredo and labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman have called for the release of the senator.
De Lima, who is seeking reelection in the upcoming polls, is included in Robredo’s senatorial ticket.
The detained senator is often represented on stage by her aide or lawyer holding her cut-out likeness during campaign events.
“Senator de Lima’s long-term wrongful detention exemplifies the lawlessness and cruelty of the Duterte administration,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia Director.
“She should not have to wait for the election of the country’s next president to be released,” he added.
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