Senator Calls for DOJ Action Against Prosecutors in Leila de Lima Acquittal Appeal

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Pangilinan has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to impose sanctions on the prosecution panel that attempted to reverse the acquittal of Liberal Party Representative Leila de Lima. The team, which consists of ten prosecutors, initially filed a motion for reconsideration on July 14 but later retracted it on July 23 after consulting with DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Pangilinan stated on Saturday, "There should be legal and administrative accountability against the 10-member panel for possible violations of ethical standards and constitutional guarantees." He further criticized the move as "not only a harassment and a deliberate act of injustice against someone who has already suffered seven years of detention over baseless charges, but it is also a misuse of prosecutorial power and an affront to the judiciary."

De Lima, a prominent government critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained since February 2017. She faced three cases at the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court related to alleged illegal drug activities at the New Bilibid Prison. The trial court dismissed the first case in February 2021, followed by the second in May 2023, and the third in June 2024.

Despite these acquittals, the Court of Appeals ruled on April 30 to remand a case back to the Muntinlupa RTC, renewing legal proceedings against De Lima. The senator's call for DOJ intervention highlights ongoing concerns about prosecutorial conduct and respect for judicial decisions in this high-profile case.