SolGen elevates De Lima’s acquittal in 2nd drug case to Court of Appeals

Former senator Leila de Lima attended the Sept. 11 hearing on the remaining drug case filed against her. She was acquitted on the two other cases.(Photo from office of Atty. Leila De Lima)

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has elevated the second drug case acquittal of detained former senator Leila de Lima to the Court of Appeals.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra confirmed that a petition for certiorari had been filed on September 4, 2023.

“The OSG filed a petition for certiorari, not an appeal with the Court of Appeals on 4 September 2023, on the ground of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of the trial court judge,” Guevarra said.

She was acquitted by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court in connection with conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading for receiving a P10 million total amount from former Bureau of Correction (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos to supposedly fund her 2016 senatorial bid.

Ragos eventually disowned his testimony, saying he was only coerced to pin Leila de Lima for the supposed wrongdoing.

In acquitting de Lima, the Muntinlupa court said the prosecution had managed to unlock a complex network of drug transactions at the national penitentiary but failed to establish de Lima’s involvement.

De Lima’s counsel, Atty. Filibon Tacardon remains unfazed by the OSG’s petition.

“We are confident of the acquittal. We believe that the petition [for certiorari] should also be dismissed,” he told reporters.

Leila De Lima has one more drug case undergoing trial.

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