The camp of former opposition Senator and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has filed an omnibus motion seeking the outright dismissal of her drug cases as well as granting her the right to post bail and immediate release.
The motion was filed on February 23 but released only to the media on Friday, February 24, which coincides with de Lima's sixth year in prison.
In the filed motion, de Lima prayed for immediate release on the grounds that star witness former corrections chief Rafael Ragos recanted his previous drug accusations against her.
In November last year, Ragos recanted his allegations against de Lima at a Muntinlupa City court.
Likewise, the former asked for the release of her former aide Ronnie Dayan.
Meanwhile, earlier on Friday, de Lima penned a letter about her 6th year of serving in detention.
6 years of unjust detention.
— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) February 24, 2023
6 years that my persecutors hoped would be spent in futility, submission and silence.
Instead, it has been 6 years of fighting the good fight... perhaps the most important 6 years of my life. pic.twitter.com/5poYvm2BkG
"6 years I stood my ground. And today, after 6 years, I am still fighting for my own innocence and for justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings and the families they left behind," she said in a letter shared on her Twitter account.
De Lima said she is convinced that her vindication is forthcoming.
She asserted that she will stand her ground even if external forces will attempt to silence her.
"For when they come after me and try to silence me, they are actually coming after those who cannot speak for themselves and defend themselves. I cannot, in good conscience, let that happen," the former Senator added.
De Lima, a known critic of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, was detained in 2017 over charges linked to the drug-trafficking scandal.
