DETAINED former senator Leila de Lima has been acquitted on Friday in one of her two remaining drug cases, according to her legal counsel, Atty. Filibon Tacardon, following the promulgation of the case at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204.
“Acquitted,” Tacardon said in a message to reporters.
In a 39-page decision, De Lima and Ronnie Dayan, her co-accused and former bodyguard, were acquitted of an illegal drug trading charge on the ground of reasonable doubt.
The court stated that though the prosecution was able to establish the existence of rampant illegal drug trading at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), the retraction of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Rafael Ragos cast reasonable doubt on De Lima and Dayan’s involvement in it.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, welcomed De Lima’s acquittal.
“The rule of law has prevailed, and it just points out to us that the independence of the judiciary is a basic foundation of our democratic system,” he said in an ambush interview.
“It’s good. It’s good for us. It just proves that things are working in our country,” Remulla added.
De Lima, who was been detained in Camp Crame since February 2017, was accused of benefiting financially from the alleged illegal drug trade inside the NBP during her stint as Justice secretary to support her senatorial bid in 2016.
In May 2022, Ragos retracted his testimonies against De Lima.
Ragos had claimed that he and aide Jovencio Ablen Jr. delivered P5 million in proceeds from the illegal drug trade inside the NBP to De Lima’s house in Parañaque City in 2012.
The court said Ragos was the only one who had personal knowledge of the source of money.
“Under the circumstances of this case, the testimony of witness Ragos is necessary to sustain any possible conviction. Without his testimony, the crucial link to establish conspiracy is shrouded with reasonable doubt,” it said.
“Hence, this Court is constrained to consider the subsequent retraction of witness Ragos. Ultimately, the retraction created reasonable doubt which warrants the acquittal of both accused,” it added.
The decision was penned by Presiding Judge Abraham Alcantara.
