Former Senator Leila de Lima answers questions from the media in an ambush interview on Monday, June 24, 2024, after the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court acquitted her in the last drug-related case filed by the Duterte administration. 黑料社 file photo/Ryan Leagogo
The Philippine government can cite the recent acquittal of former Sen. Leila de Lima as proof that the country鈥檚 justice system is working, thus bolstering the argument against letting the International Criminal Court (ICC) look into the 鈥渄rug war鈥� killings that occurred during the Duterte administration.
President Marcos aired this view on Thursday as he stood firm on his position not to allow the entry of ICC investigators into the country.
READ: De Lima acquitted in last drug case
鈥淲ell, maybe this is something we should show the ICC: [that] the judiciary is working properly, our investigative services are working properly and former Senator De Lima has been acquitted,鈥� Mr. Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of the 2024 National Employment Summit at The Manila Hotel.
On Monday, De Lima was cleared by the Muntinlupa City court of the last of the three-drug trafficking cases filed against her by the Department of Justice under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
The dismissal of the case was hailed as a complete vindication for the ex-senator and justice secretary鈥攁nd a staunch critic of Duterte鈥檚 brutal antidrug crackdowns since his years as Davao City mayor鈥攚ho had spent about seven years in jail while on trial.
Mr. Marcos declined to elaborate on his comment on the court decision. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what further comments there could be. She (De Lima) went through trial, and was acquitted, so鈥︹��
鈥淲e still stay with our position that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines because we have a working police force, we have a working judiciary, and do not require any assistance in that regard,鈥� he said.
But he said the government would not interfere if De Lima, back in the front line as one of the leaders of the political opposition, would actively help the ICC prosecutors by providing material evidence on the drug war killings.
鈥淪he has said that she would like to help the ICC, but that鈥檚 between her and the ICC,鈥� he said.
UN hails ruling
On Wednesday, the United Nations and the country鈥檚 Commission on Human Rights (CHR) hailed the court decision acquitting De Lima.
For Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 鈥渉er case reflects wider issues concerning the targeting of human rights defenders and other dissenting voices.鈥�
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Laurence urged the Marcos administration to prioritize pending legislation that would further protect human rights watchdogs in the country.
鈥淎ccountability for human rights violations, in particular the review panel the government announced four years ago to investigate antidrug related killings of thousands during the previous administration, remains out of reach,鈥� he noted.
Should serve as 鈥榗atalyst鈥�
The CHR called the Muntinlupa court decision 鈥渁 significant victory for justice and the rule of law,鈥� drawing a lesson from De Lima鈥檚 case.
鈥淎s Senator De Lima fully regains her freedom, her case must serve as a catalyst to continuously sound the alarm to uphold justice, protect human rights, and foster an environment where dissent is valued and respected without fear of retribution,鈥� the CHR said in a statement.
For Montse Ferrer, deputy regional director of Amnesty International, De Lima鈥檚 鈥渇ull freedom and vindication鈥� ended her years of 鈥渁rbitrary detention鈥� and 鈥渞elentless political persecution.鈥� 鈥擶ITH A REPORT FROM RUSSEL LORETO