By Angelo Lopez

Former Philippine senator Leila De Lima was acquitted of the second of three drug charges after key witnesses recanted and admitted to having lied about her involvement in drug trafficking. De Lima has been detained since 2017 on drug charges she claims were fabricated by former President Rodrigo Duterte and his officials in an effort to stifle her senate investigation into Duterte’s policy of granting police impunity to use extrajudicial killings in their war on drugs. This policy resulted in the execution of approximately 27,000 drug suspects by police or vigilantes without affording them the opportunity to defend themselves in court.
The two most important witnesses in the case against De Lima, Kerwin Espinosa and the former acting director of the Bureau of Corrections, Rafael Ragos, recanted their testimony.
Both men stated that they were coerced and threatened by government officials to make false accusations against De Lima.
Leila De Lima remains incarcerated pending the verdict of a third charge brought against her. Ex-senator Leila De Lima was acquitted of the second of three drug charges after key witnesses recanted and admitted they had lied about her involvement in drug trafficking. nd

Leila De Lima remains in custody pending the outcome of a third charge brought against her.

_{(Reference: “The continuing saga of Leila de Lima by Randy David/ PDI May 14, 2023)}