MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, as well as other members of their 2022 national elections running slate, welcomed Muntinlupa court’s decision to acquit former senator Leila de Lima of her drug case.
At the same time, they are disappointed at how long it took for the lawmaker to be set free.
Pangilinan, who ran for vice president in 2022 together with presidential aspirant Leni Robredo, said their camp had always believed in Leila de Lima’s innocence for the past six years.
“Even as it has come more than six years after her imprisonment on fabricated and baseless accusations, we nevertheless welcome the Court’s verdict. Mula unang araw pa lang ng kanyang pagkulong ang posisyon natin ay gawa gawa lamang ang mga paratang at walang katiting na tunay na ebidensya laban (kay) Leila. Ang ebidensya lahat fabricated,” said Pangilinan in a social media post.
(“Even as it has come more than six years after her imprisonment on fabricated and baseless accusations, we nevertheless welcome the Court’s verdict. From the first day of her imprisonment, our position has been that every accusation against de Lima is false and without real evidence. All pieces of evidence are fabricated.)
Chel Diokno, who ran for senator alongside Leila de Lima, said he rejoiced over the decision.
But he also lamented that the legal process took a long time.
“Napatunayan din ang matagal nating isinisigaw na pawang gawa-gawa at paghihiganti lang ng mga kasong isinampa laban sa kanya. Tabunan man ng libu-libong kasinungalingan, sa huli mananaig pa rin ang katotohanan at hustisya,” Diokno said in a separate statement.
(What we have long been shouting about has been proven, that the cases filed against her are fabricated and vengeful. Cover up all the lies and at the end, truth and justice will prevail.)
Antontio Trillanes IV, another former senator who ran with de Lima, said that “freedom is near.”
“Redemption and vindication are next,” Trillanes said.
Leila De Lima has been imprisoned since 2017, with three drug cases filed against her under the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Out of these three cases, two have now been dismissed.