Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 5) — The “prolonged and unjust detention” of Leila de Lima has prompted European Union (EU) lawmakers to write a letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla pleading for the release of the former senator and the dismissal of all charges against her.
In the June 29 letter made public on Tuesday, members of the EU Parliament subcommittee on human rights expressed concern over the denial of De Lima’s bail on June 7, which extended her six-year detention on drug-related charges.
“Over the past six years, the legal proceedings surrounding Ms. De Lima’s case have been marked by unnecessary delays, including prosecution witnesses frequently failed to appear during court hearings, and there have been changes in the composition of judges overseeing the case,” the letter read.
The legislators pointed out that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in 2018 that De Lima’s detention was arbitrary due to the absence of a legal basis and the disregard for international norms regarding the right to a fair trial.
The 63-year-old staunch critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte has been in detention since February 2017 on charges that as justice secretary, she benefitted from the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary and used the money to finance her senatorial campaign in 2016.
She has consistently denied these allegations, claiming Duterte was behind the “massive demolition job” against her.
The EU lawmakers acknowledged the former senator’s acquittal in two of her three drug cases.
They, however, noted that recent developments appear to contradict the Philippines’ commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which they said explicitly emphasizes that pre-trial detention should not be the general rule.
The lawmakers also related De Lima’s case to the Philippines’ trade perks from the EU.
“We wish to highlight that this treaty is an essential part of the GSP+ (Generalized Scheme of Preferences)+ arrangement,” the body said.
Under the GSP+, the country benefits from EU tariff perks, including duty-free entry for 6,200 local products such as fruits, animals, textiles and metals.
EU officials have warned Marcos to address the war on drugs and De Lima’s detention or lose the GSP+ advantages, saying that the former senator’s release is a “strong sign” that the nation wants to continue enjoying its perks.
The GSP+ perks are set to expire by year-end and Marcos needs to negotiate for a renewal.
The EU members further endorsed the demands made by UN experts in June, urging the national government to conclude permanently De Lima’s case, provide appropriate compensation and reparations, as well as thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to “this unjust situation” in the first place.
“We maintain our trust in the Government of the Philippines, anticipating that it will promptly rectify this grave injustice by dropping all charges and unconditionally release Leila de Lima,” said Hannah Neumann, Raphaël Glucksmann, Heidi Hautala, Miguel Urbán Crespo, and Isabel Wiseler-Lima.
Source: CNN Philippines | Jul 5, 2023 | 10:17:28 PM
