Rep. Leila de Lima House of Representatives file photo
From detention to acquittal
De Lima, a former senator and justice secretary, was arrested in 2017 and accused of benefiting from the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. She repeatedly denied the charges, calling them politically motivated.
Three separate drug cases were filed against her. Two were dismissed in 2021 and 2023. The third, which alleged conspiracy to commit drug trading, was resolved in May 2023 when Branch 204 acquitted De Lima and Dayan. The ruling cited the recantation of key witness Rafael Ragos and the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Court of Appeals intervention
In April 2025, the Court of Appeals (CA) voided the 2023 acquittal, saying the RTC decision did not sufficiently explain how Ragos’ retraction affected the case. The appellate court remanded the case for a new ruling and held that the judgment could not be considered final due to what it called grave abuse of discretion.
De Lima’s lawyers invoked double jeopardy, but the CA ruled that protection did not apply because the earlier judgment was void.
Reaffirmation and closure
On June 27, 2025, the Muntinlupa court stood by its original acquittal, declaring once more that the prosecution’s evidence under the Dangerous Drugs Act was insufficient. Prosecutors initially filed a motion for reconsideration but later sought to withdraw it.
On October 1, 2025, Judge Gener Gito granted the withdrawal and declared the case “closed and terminated.”
Aftermath and significance
The case’s termination means De Lima no longer faces any pending drug charges. Supporters and rights advocates welcomed the outcome as a vindication of due process and a reminder of the risks of using recanted testimonies in politically sensitive prosecutions.
De Lima, who won a congressional seat earlier this year, said she intends to push forward with justice reform and human rights legislation. The Department of Justice has stated it will abide by the court’s final ruling.
