DE LIMA ACQUITTED ON LAST OF 3 DRUG RAPS

FORMER senator Leila de Lima on Monday has been cleared of her third and final illegal drugs-related case.

Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 Presiding Judge Gener Gito granted the demurrer to evidence, a motion arguing lack of evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The court said the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of all the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Apart from De Lima, the court also acquitted her co-accused in the case former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Jesus Bucayu, the ex-lawmaker’s former bodyguard Ronnie Palisoc Dayan, and former aides Joenel Tan Sanchez, and  Jose Adrian Tiamson Dera.

“Assessing the totality of the evidence presented by the prosecution, the court is of the firm resolve and so holds that the prosecution was not able to prove the guilt of all accused beyond a reasonable doubt,” the court said.

The prosecution will file a motion for reconsideration.

Last March, De Lima’s camp filed the demurrer asking the court to acquit her due to the prosecution’s failure to prove her involvement in illegal drugs trade.

The former senator was cleared of her first case in February 2021 by the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 and the second case by Branch 204 last year.

In 2017, a  Quezon City court likewise junked her two disobedience cases filed by Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who was the House Speaker then, and ex-congressmen Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte and the late Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoro.

She was detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City from February 2017 until she was granted bail in November last year.

De Lima said she was filled with relief and joy at her acquittal.

“Mas mapapanatag at makakatulog na ako nang mas maluwag. With the grant of our demurrer to evidence, which is tantamount to acquittal, that means I am now completely free and vindicated. It’s very liberating,” she said.