Sen. Leila de Lima (Photo from her Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima on Monday said that she would start redeeming her name after being granted bail after almost seven years in detention on drug charges.
“This is my opportunity because you know they destroyed my life, and that’s why I am going to rebuild my life now,” De Lima said in a press conference.
“They destroyed and ruined my name, my reputation. Now that I am free, I am going to work hard to redeem my name and complete vindication is the key.”
READ: Muntinlupa court allows De Lima to post bail
READ: Leila de Lima acquitted in 2nd drug case
De Lima also thanked the international community who rallied behind her ever since she was detained on Feb. 24, 2017, just months after launching a Senate inquiry into President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
“The international community almost from day one has been monitoring the progress of my case and many personalities, foreign dignitaries, and also foreign organizations have been releasing statements calling for my release. And this is vindication, and I will further work for complete vindication because this case is not yet over,” De Lima said, speaking partly in Filipino.
“I want people to know the truth of my innocence. I want the people to know how it happened. I want the people to know who is behind it so in due time… so many believed it [the charges against her] then,” she added.
De Lima has already been acquitted of three charges filed against her, which her camp has continuously maintained as “trumped-up.”
She won the first case through demurrer of evidence in February 2021 and the other through lack of merit of the prosecution’s case in May this year.