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[av_heading heading=’ Leila alleges gov’t persecution, pleads to SC for release’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Wednesday, April 19, 2017
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MANILA – Sen. Leila de Lima asked the Supreme Court to free her saying that the case filed against her in connection with her alleged participation in the illegal drug trade is politically motivated.
De Lima is currently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame on drug trafficking charges.
“What makes [her] case special is [the government’s] willingness to use the strong arm of the law to persecute [her] simply to fulfil one man’s promise to make her rot in jail,” the senator said in her memorandum filed with the high court.
The three separate drug cases against her “are manifestly false and brought before a court that is manifestly without jurisdiction, simply to satisfy the lust of vengeance,” she also said.
Prior to detention, de Lima, then Commission on Human Rights chair, investigated the alleged prevalence of extrajudicial killings in Davao City. The former chairwoman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights also conducted hearings on President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged involvement in the “Davao Death Squad”.
De Lima’s memorandum also raised the government’s inconsistency when it comes to the crime she has been accused of.
She was originally charged in the Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa for Consummated Trading in Dangerous Drugs. The Office of the Solicitor General, however, said the charge against the former justice secretary is Conspiracy to Commit Trading in Illegal Drugs.
“In plain terms, Petitioner was charged and arrested for the wrong crime… She must therefore be released without delay, as every moment of confinement is unconstitutional,” she wrote.
The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (Branch 204) ordered the arrest of de Lima last Feb. 23. The senator surrendered to authorities the following day./PN
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