Karapatan pushes for Immediate release of De Lima

Leila de Lima INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan is not only calling for the immediate release of Sen. Leila de Lima but also called on Filipinos to reelect her to the Senate, citing her role in the government in holding President Rodrigo Duterte accountable once he steps down from the presidency.

In a statement on Saturday, Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay described De Lima’s arrest and detention as a “case of political persecution and repression,” following the retraction of self-confessed drug lord Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa who accused the senator of being involved in the illegal drug trade in New Bilibid Prison.

“The charges and public vilification against her are reprisals for her persistent efforts to investigate the Duterte administration’s sham and bloody drug war, which has murdered thousands of lives with brazen violence and impunity,” Palabay said.

She said the recantation by Espinosa proves that the former justice secretary’s arrest were “based on lies.” International rights groups have also called for De Lima’s release, labeling her arrest as part of Duterte’s crackdown on his critics in his bloody war on drugs.

—DEMPSEY REYES

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