Duterte doesn't need to react on De Lima release - Roque

Lawyer Harry Roque, who served as a spokesperson of former President Rodrigo Duterte, said the latter does not need to react to former Senator Leila de Lima's release from detention, noting that Duterte had no hand in the criminal cases filed against one of his staunchest critics.

In an interview with Malacañang reporters, Roque said he has not yet talked with Duterte regarding De Lima who was freed on bail after nearly seven years in detention.

"Hindi pa po kasi sa mula't mula, wala naman pong pakialam dito si Presidente Duterte, hindi po nagsampa ng kaso si Presidente Duterte, hindi po siya nag-utos na sampahan ng kaso si Leila de Lima. Sa totoo lang po, ang unang-unang lumabas na testigo ay sariling tao ni Leila de Lima na si dating deputy director ng NBI Ragos," Roque said.

De Lima was released from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday night after completing the bail procedures and undergoing a physical check-up. 

(I have not yet spoken with him. But since the beginning, President Duterte was not involved. He did not file a case against Leila De Lima, he did not instruct the filing of any case. In fact, the very first witness who came out against the senator was one of her own men, former NBI Deputy Director [Rafael] Ragos.) 

"Hindi naman na po kinakailangang magsalita ang dating Presidente Duterte dahil wala naman talaga siyang pakialam at wala po siyang kahit anong ginawa para umusad itong mga kaso ni Leila de Lima,'' he explained. 

([Duterte] does not need to speak about this because he does not care [about De Lima’s case] and he didn't do anything for this case to move forward.)

The former senator, a vocal critic of Duterte and his controversial war on drugs, hoped God would “forgive” and “bless” Duterte when asked what her message was to the former president.  

Last year, Duterte said drug charges against De Lima could still prosper even after witnesses recanted their testimonies. The former senator and Justice secretary consistently denied the allegations against her.

On Monday, De Lima was granted her petition for bail  by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206.

De Lima’s first acquittal came in February 2021 when Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205 junked one of her three cases. 

On May 12, Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 acquitted de Lima and Ronnie Dayan, her co-accused and former bodyguard, of an illegal drug trading charge on the grounds of reasonable doubt.

In her remaining case, De Lima, along with several others, is accused of being involved in the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos said De Lima's case proved there was no need for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to meddle with the country’s justice system. 

"The independence of the judiciary is present and true. Our court is a court of law and justice, oblivious of personalities or any political noise. Senator De Lima’s bail yesterday was a testament to that," she said.

"It bolsters my position mula simula pa, that the ICC has no jurisdiction over any Filipino – lalo na kay PRRD. It has no business meddling with our justice system,” the senator added.

She also said that President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. has nothing to do with De Lima's case. 

"Walang kinalaman si PBBM sa anumang kaso. Kahit sino man hindi maaring makialam sa judiciary, let's protect their independence," Marcos noted. —RF, GMA Integrated News