Sen. Leila de Lima. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The war against illegal drugs should continue, former senator Leila de Lima said Tuesday, but law enforcers should do it without extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and cover-ups.
De Lima, a staunch critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who launched the bloody war on drugs, said that the anti-illegal drug campaign should comply with the law.
“Absolutely, the anti-drug campaign must be pursued relentlessly, this time within the bounds of law, sincerely without fear or favor, and infusing effective drug rehabilitation programs,” she wrote on Twitter.
Absolutely, the anti-drug campaign must be pursued relentlessly, this time within the bounds of law, sincerely without fear or favor, and infusing effective drug rehabilitation programs.
— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) July 5, 2022
“No more EJKs. No manipulation of post-operation reports. No falsification of death certificates. No cover-ups,” the detained former public servant added.
READ: Duterte, infamous for deadly drug war, ends term
De Lima pushed government officials to prosecute big-time suppliers and distributors and “real drug protectors and co-conspirators,” including prosecution witnesses in her drug cases.
“Intently run after big-time suppliers/distributors and the real drug protectors and co-conspirators. Prosecute them vigorously,” she urged.
“Including prosecution witnesses in my cases who, despite their open-court admission as to their involvement in the Bilibid drug trade, and disqualified as state witnesses, were spared from prosecution by Duterte’s [Department of Justice] in exchange for their false testimonies against me,” she continued.
De Lima also called for a “true” campaign against illegal drugs.
“It is time to pursue a true anti-drug campaign that addresses the real causes for the proliferation of drugs, that truly solves the bane of drug dependency, and unafraid to go after big-time drug lords,” she said.
De Lima has been detained since 2017 over drug charges which she repeatedly denied and described as only “trumped-up” and “fabricated.” She has been acquitted on one of three drug cases filed against her.
Also, some witnesses against de Lima have recanted their allegations, saying they were “coerced” to issue testimonies against the former senator.
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