Philippine Court Acquits Duterte Critic Leila de Lima of Final Drug Charges
In a significant legal development, a Philippine court has acquitted former Senator Leila de Lima of the last of three drug-related cases against her. De Lima, a vocal critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial “war on drugs,” has faced legal battles since 2017. The charges were filed just months after she initiated a Senate inquiry into Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of suspected drug users and dealers, often under questionable circumstances.
De Lima’s acquittal marks a pivotal moment in her long fight for justice and highlights ongoing concerns about the rule of law and human rights in the Philippines. The court’s decision is seen as a vindication for de Lima, who has maintained her innocence and argued that the charges were politically motivated to silence her criticism of Duterte’s administration.