"God forgive him and God bless him," this is the only message former senator Leila de Lima has for former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte in her first press conference on Monday, November 13 — the day she was released on bail.
A Muntinlupa court granted de Lima, after being imprisoned for almost seven years, to post bail for her pending third and final drug case.
"First, ‘yong message ko kay former president Duterte, well isa lang sasabihin ko. God forgive him and God bless him, ‘yon lang muna ngayon. Marami pa ‘kong puwedeng sabihin sa kanya, pero ‘wag muna," the former senator said in her first public appearance.
For now, De Lima said she prioritizes working on her complete vindication from the accusations against her.
When asked if there is a possibility of suing Duterte, the former senator said there were "discussions" but refrained from divulging more details about it.
"There's always that option, but as for definite plans, pinag-uusapan yan. It's a matter of justice that those who need to be held accountable should be held accountable," she said.
In the same presser, De Lima recalled her struggles while in detention and how she missed important milestones in her life, which included not being able to pay her last respects to former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and ex-Scoal Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, who both succumbed in 2021.
"Lahat po iyon nilabanan ko. Hindi ko isusuko ang aking pagkatao at pagiging tao. They may have taken years of my life, but they will never take my humanity. Ang mundo ay puno ng mga taong buktot ang kaluluwa at makasarili sa harap ng pagdurusa ng taumbayan. I will never be one of them,” the former lawmaker said.
Several personalities and groups, including her allies Senator Risa Hontiveros and former Vice President Leni Robredo, celebrated de Lima’s granting of bail plea and release from detention on Monday, Nov. 13.
De Lima is currently out on bail with only one remaining drug case. The first case was already junked in 2021, while the former lawmaker secured acquittal in her second case last May.
