De Lima while in detention

Detained former Sen. Leila De Lima expresses dismay over the Solicitor General's petition for certiorari agains her acquittal. 

"I am, of course, greatly dismayed by the OSG's move in elevating to the CA the judgment of my acquittal in one of my 3 trumped-up drug cases," De Lima says in a dispatch.

"An acquittal is an acquittal, a final and conclusive disposition of the merits of the case which, under firmly settled case law, is no longer appealable, save for very exceptional grounds or circumstances, none of which can be legitimately invoked to question the 12 May 2023 Decision of the RTC-Muntinlupa, Br. 205 exonerating me and my co-accused," she adds.

"What is exceptional here is the persistence of my persecutors to perpetuate this travesty of justice by keeping me incarcerated," the former senator and justice secretary concludes.

The remaining drug case against detained former senator Leila De Lima will be handled by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Joseph Alcantara.

The case is re-raffled off to Court 26 after Judge Romeo Buenaventure inhibited himself two weeks ago.

De Lima is battling the drug case after years of being accused of receiving around P70 million from alleged illegal drug trade collection at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City from 2013 to 2015.
 

Council for People’s Development and Governance, a network of 60 non-governmental organizations, on Independence Day, called for the release of former Sen. Leila de Lima.

In a statement, CPDG has condemned the “injustices endured” by de Lima, including political prisoners and those behind bars waiting for their cases to be heard. This, they said, highlight “the disturbingly biased and problematic nature of the Philippine justice system -punishing mostly the powerless and targeted.”

“It is a critical juncture in our nation’s history, demanding that the Philippine government under [President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.] genuinely upholds his promises to rectify the prevailing ‘unfreedoms’ within our society,” they add.

Department of Justice prosecutors file an appeal on the Muntinlupa court’s dismissal of the conspiracy to commit drug charge against former Sen. Leila de Lima.

The prosecution filed a Motion for Reconsideration before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 that acquitted De Lima on May 12—clearing her of her second drug case.

They say in their appeal: “With all due respect, the Prosecution most respectfully moves for the reconsideration thereof on the ground that jurisprudence dictates and the circumstances of the instant case reveal that the subsequent recantation of the witness Ragos was not able to vitiate his original testimony given in open court.”

Prosecutors also argue “there are other pieces of evidence on record to prove all the elements of the crime charged, including the role played by both accused [De Lima and her ex-aide Ronnie Dayan] in the illegal drug trading inside the [Bilibid].” — Kristine Joy Patag

Former Sen. Leila de Lima in a statement says she had “no doubt from the beginning” that she will be acquitted in all cases “fabricated” by the Duterte government by “based on the merits and the strength of my innocence.”

Rights group Karapatan welcomes acquittal of former Sen. Leila de Lima, who it says "has been detained...but remained firm and steadfast in speaking out against Duterte's crimes", calls on Muntinlupa court to grant bail in last pending drug case.

"As we welcome Sen. Leila's acquittal and call for her release, we likewise call for the release of all political prisoners like her who have been persecuted because of their work and beliefs on human rights and social justice," Karapatan also says. — Jonathan de Santos

Former Sen. Leila de Lima scores another legal victory at Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 as she is acquitted in a second drug case.

She will, however, remain detained pending decision in third drug case. — Xave Gregorio

Sonny Ocampo, lead prosecutor in the case against De Lima, arrives at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice ahead of today’s verdict. — Xave Gregorio 

Ex-Sen. Leila de Lima’s former aide and co-accused Ronnie Dayan arrives at the Muntinlupa city hall for the promulgation of the drug case against him and De Lima. — Kristine Joy Patag

Sen. Leila de Lima arrives at the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice. She says she’s “excited yet nervous” but is confident the “justice will reign today”  — Xave Gregorio

Former Sen. Leila de Lima says she will continue to fight for her innocence “and for the justice for the extrajudicial killings and the families they left behind.”

She says that on this day, which marks her sixth year in detention, she is “convinced that I did the right thing of sacrificing my personal liberty and even my political career.”

“I strongly believe that my vindication is at hand. But even if they continue to try to silence me, I refuse to cower,” she adds.

A delegation from the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights will visit former Sen. Leila de Lima in her detention at Camp Crame on Friday, her office says.

The visit comes a day before De Lima marks her sixth year in detention.

Just this month, the EU parliament issued a resolution condemning the continued detention of De Lima.

Former Sen. Leila de Lima says she tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms such as cold, mild cough, itchy throat and joint/body aches.

She is in self-isolation and is taking anti-viral medicines, she adds in a statement.

"I smell freedom and vindication. Please, dear Lord," tweets detained former senator Leila de Lima on Saturday through her staff handling her social media account.

De Lima's tweet came following the release of the advanced unedited copy of the United Nations Human Rights Committee's observations on the situation in the Philippines.

In its report that argued De Lima's "prolonged pretrial detention," the committee urged Manila to allow her release on bail.

"With Truth on my side and with prayers and deepened Faith as my weapon, I fear no one," tweeted the former lawmaker, a political nemesis of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Economist Solita "Winnie" Monsod says the Philippine National Police has denied their request to visit detained former Sen. Leila de Lima on her birthday.

"It is OUTRAGEOUS! We were on our way to visit Leila de Lima on her birthday when our request made weeks ago was just now VERBALLY disapproved," says Monsod on Twitter.

"I and my husband, Justice Carpio. Chel Diokno, and others ALL barred. Too much! She’s not convicted, not allowed a phone, and now this!" she adds.

Eight members of the US Congressional delegation has visited former Sen. Leila de Lima on Friday noon, a source tells Philstar.com.

The visit lasted from noon to 1:15 p.m.

The office of the former lawmaker has yet to release an official statement on what was talked about during the visit.

Two Muntinlupa courts approve the Extremely Urgent Motion of the legal team of former Sen. Leila de Lima to allow the visit of US Congressional delegation on Friday.

Atty. Mico Clavano from the Office of Justice Secretary Boying Remulla says PG Benedicto Malcontento wrote a memo that they are consistent with the OMB reso on testimony of Kerwin Espinosa that there is no corrobarting evidence of P8M given to ex-Sen. Leila de Lima.

The department stresses that the recent Ombudsman resolution were on complaints of bribery. It says: "What is before the Muntinlupa courts are the Drug Trade charges which have completely different elements to be proven than that of bribery."

Atty. Mico Clavano from the Office of Justice Secretary Boying Remulla says PG Benedicto Malcontento wrote a memo that they are consistent with the OMB reso on testimony of Kerwin Espinosa that there is no corrobarting evidence of P8M given to ex-Sen. Leila de Lima. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/aUbJqWPA9U

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) August 11, 2022

The Department of Justice affirms it earlier statement that even with the dismissal of bribery complaint against former Sen. Leila de Lima, drug charges against her are "up to courts," Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla tells reporters.

"DOJ’s statement remains the same. We will leave it to the sound discretion of the Muntinlupa Court to decide on the case. We have already presented our evidence. It is Former Senator de Lima’s turn to present hers," lawyer Mico Clavano from the Office of the Justice Secretary adds.

Minority Senators Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel file a resolution seeking the release of former lawmaker Leila De Lima  from her “unjust and arbitrary detention.”

The senators urge the Department of Justice to withdraw the remaining charges against De Lima “in light of recent recantations given by key witnesses in her drug cases.”

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima says outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra's decision to adopt the recommendation of the proseuction panel that reviewed the cases against her "is plainly a safe and nonchalant gesture."

"It is devoid of any effort to dig deeper in the wider scheme of things behind my persecution by Duterte. It is nothing but a worthless, unsubstantial table review.Frustrating but not at all surprising or unexpected. I guess it was wishful thinking to expect anything different from Sec. Guevarra," she adds.

Ronnie Dayan, former aide of Sen. Leila de Lima, has recanted his testimonies against the detained senator.

De Lima's legal counsel Rolly Francis Peoro says Dayan confirms that there was no delivery of P10 million to him or to De Lima.

"So nirecant niya lahat yung sinasabi niya. The testimony was not voluntary," Peoro says.

Ex-BuCor OIC Rafael Ragos, another key witness against Sen. Leila De Lima recants allegations against the detained opposition lawmaker in an affidavit executed on April 30.

"I now hereby declare.. that there is no truth whatsoever to any of these affidavits or House and court testimonies, or any other statement... on the delivery of monies to Sec. De Lima or Ronnie Dayan in whatever amount," Ragos says. — Kristine Joy Patag

Confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa recants his allegations vs Sen. Leila de Lima.

He says he has no dealings with De Lima and “has not given her money at any given time.”

The recantation is contained in a counter-affidavit Espinosa filed in a pending NBI complaint before the DOJ. His lawyer, Atty. Raymund Palad, tells Philstar.com  that his client signed the counter-affidavit on Wednesday in Bicutan. — Kristine Joy Patag

Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima says she's elated after being acquitted in one of the drug charges she is facing.

"To be acquitted even in just one case, in the time of Duterte, is a victory," the opposition says in a statement Wednesday. 

"Na-deny man ang ating Demurrer to Evidence at Motion for Bail sa Criminal Case No. 17-165, naniniwala ako at ang aking mga abogado na mahina ang ebidensya ng gobyerno dito para patunayan ang mga gawa-gawa nilang paratang," she adds.

Sen. Leila de Lima files a motion for bail for the drug case against her and Ronnie Dayan before a Muntinlupa court. The detained senator argues that evidence presented by the prosecution was not strong.

"Without prejudice to her prior arguments questioning the validity of the Amended Information, Accused De Lima respectfully submits that she is  entitled to bail as a matter of right, and thus moves for bail ad cautelam," the motion read.

Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima questions the sudden death of Bilibid inmate Jaybee Sebastian from the coronavirus disease. 

"Sebastian’s death means one less perjured witness against me, but it also means one less witness against Duterte, Vitaliano Aguirre, Jose Calida, Persida Acosta, Sandra Cam, Ferdinand Topacio, certain retired police generals, and all those who conspired to line-up all these Bilibid inmates to manufacture stories of drug-dealing to implicate me and send me to prison," the senator says.

Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima files a measure seeking to provide free immunizations for senior citizens who are all susceptible to viruses.

“No less than the Constitution guarantees that the needs of the elderly in relation to their right to health shall be given priority by the State.  Clearly, senior citizens belong to a special class of individuals for which the Constitution affords preferential concern,” De Lima says.

“Their growing number coupled with their susceptibilities has now made it vital for the State to make the promotion and protection of their health and well-being among its priority social legislations,” she adds.

Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima slams the move to change the name of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas.

"Ano na namang kabalbalan ito?" the senator asks.

"The lawmakers pushing for it has a distorted sense of nationalism, if at all. Such a proposal is devoid of any salutary objective. It’s plain and simple politics. And stupidity," De Lima adds.

Detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima is free to file charges if she thinks her rights are being violated by the restrictions on visitors at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center, Malacañang says Monday.

De Lima, who is in jail over drug-related charges, has questioned PNP's policy on accepting visitors, saying it has not fulfilled its commitment to relax restrictions once the quarantine level was downgraded from modified enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine (GCQ). Metro Manila has been under GCQ since June 1. — The STAR/Alexis Romero

Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima seeks investigation into possible abuse if subpoena powers by the National Bureau of Investigation after they summoned private citizens over their social media posts on COVID-19 pandemic.

De Lima filed a Senate resolution directing the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry into exercise of the subpoena power granted to the NBI under Republic Act No. 10867, or the “National Bureau Of Investigation Reorganization And Modernization Act”, which may have been used as an instrument to supress free expression and stifle dissent.

“It is necessary to determine whether the Constitution and statutes are violated in the issuance of NBI of subpoenas against social media posts which merely express an opinion on matters relating to their and the rest of the society’s rights,” De Lima says.

The minority Liberal Party calls on the police to allow Sen. Leila De Lima, whom they say has been "unjustly detained and now held incommunicado for over a month", visits and communication and her "right to be seen and be heard by her family, friends, and associates."

They add that  "the coronavirus pandemic must not deprive Sen. Leila of her right to information, vital health services, and communication with her loved ones. These rights know no lockdown and should be respected."

The Committee for the Freedom of Leila M. de Lima urges the Senate to reconsider the move to exclude the detained senator from the plenary sessions and committee hearings via teleconferencing. 

"Allowing her online participation will not in any way interfere with the exercise of jurisdiction of the court and the PNP over the person of the Senator, and will even honor the right of her 14 million voters to be represented in the deliberative processes of the Senate," the committee says.

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima seeks for the immediate approval of a bill granting early cash gifts for senior citizens who reach 80 and 90 years old.

“We hope that by expanding the coverage of this law, we are able to concretely honor our elderly for their meaningful contributions and their hard-fought sacrifices to their community and the Philippine society during their years of vigor,” De Lima says in a news release.

The US Senate has passed a resolution condemning the continued detention of Sen. Leila De Lima.

The same resolution also condemns "the Government of the Philippines for its role in state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings by police and other armed individuals as part of the 'War on Drugs' and the "arrest and detention of human rights defenders and political leaders who exercise their rights to freedom of expression."

Included in the language of the resolution is a provision calling "on the President of the United States to impose sanctions pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114–328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note) with respect to

— (A) members of the security forces and officials of the Government of the Philippines responsible for extrajudicial killings

; and (B) officials of the Government of the Philippines responsible for orchestrating the arrest and prolonged detention of Senator De Lima."

"My gratitude to the US Congress is overwhelming for including in the final and approved Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2020, now signed into law by the US President, the provision restricting the travel to the US of those responsible for and party to my persecution and imprisonment, or the Durbin/Leahy amendment," Sen. Leila De Lima says in a handwritten dispatch after news of the ban being included in the approved US budget for 2020.

"This latest development signals the fact that impunity cannot last and that one way or another, justice will catch up with those who choose to do injustice to others. This also signifies a solid recognition by the US government that I am a clear victim of political persecution," De Lima also says.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo says Sen. Leila de Lima's imprisonment "cannot be a wrongful detention" following news on the signing of the US spending bill which included a provision that bans the entry into America of officials involved in the detention of the senator.

Panelo on signing of spending bill that included a provision that bans the entry of those involved in the detention of Sen. de Lima into the US: It cannot be a wrongful detention @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) December 23, 2019

Panelo says Palace not bothered by
signing of spending bill that included a provision barring officials involved in the detention of de Lima from entering the US, says no credible info that her detention is wrongful @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) December 23, 2019

US President Donald Trump signs into law the 2020 spending bill which has a provision that bans Philippine officials involved in the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima from entering America, media reports say.

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima says the approval of a resolution by the US Senate committee calling on the Philippine government to drop charges against her is "further proof of the fakeness of the charges" against her.  

"Kung may natitira pang duda na ako ay inosente, at biktima lamang ng pamumulitika at personal na paghihiganti ng mga tinamaan ng aking pagganap sa aking tungkulin at pagsisilbi sa Bayan nitong nakaraang mahigit sampung taon – burado na po iyon dahil sa malinaw, matapang at matinding suportang ito," says De Lima in a dispatch release.

"The unanimous support of all the twenty-one (21) bipartisan members of the US Foreign Relations Committee puts the final nail on the coffin of the blatant lie that Duterte uttered, and shared with certain Philippine Senators during a dinner in 2017, that the intel reports about my alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade came from the US," she adds.  

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima has been hailed as the 4th Most Influential Women of 2019 by London-based business newspaper Financial Times.

“The Filipino senator remains detained over drugs allegations that she and her supporters say were fabricated,” read De Lima’s description on the newspaper. 

“De Lima had led a human rights investigation against Rodrigo Duterte into alleged extrajudicial killings that took place while he was mayor of Davao City. Her handwritten dispatches from her cell are incisive missives and commentary on the issues the Philippines faces,” it adds. 

The Palace again says a proposal by US senators to ban officials linked to the detention of Sen. Leila De Lima from entering the US is an interference into the Philippines' domestic affairs.

Panelo says proposed US ban on Phl officials involved in de Lima detention an "interference" into Phl affairs, insists no abuses committed when the senator was arrested and detained | via @alexisbromero

Watch the livestream here: https://t.co/a1DuROcWnv

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) September 30, 2019

He adds he does not mind being barred entry to the US.

Erin Tañada, Liberal Party vice president for external affairs says the action of a US Senate panel that approved the ban of Philippine officials who jailed Sen. Leila de Lima may affect the underlings of the Duterte administration, including boxing fans.

"Gauging from President Duterte's earlier aversion toward the US, this ban being pushed by the US Senate committee may not have a big dent on the chief executive himself," says Tañada.

"But maybe his underlings are silently beginning to get jittery, especially those who love going on so-called official trips to the US and boxing fans who fill the front row of the sports arenas like it is the session hall," he adds.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan says they support the move of a US Senate committee that approved a proposal to prohibit the entry of Philippine government officials involved in the “politically-motivated” detention of Sen. Leila de Lima.

"We welcome this move of the US Senators, an act of solidarity not only for Sen. Leila de Lima, but for all the murdered victims, and their orphans, widows, and mothers and fathers, who are now doubly burdened by the absence of a loved one and in many, many cases a family breadwinner," says Pangilinan.   

"We are encouraged that a growing number of world leaders recognize the unjust detention of Sen. Leila De Lima for fighting for the lives of our people. This US Senate action, as well as the Iceland UN resolution, shows that we are not alone in this fight," he adds.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court cancels its hearing on Criminal Case No. 167 against Sen. Leila De Lima and others, her lawyer, Filibon Tacardon says.

Tacardon told reporters that Jehn Louie Velandrez, lawyer of De Lima's former bodyguard Joenel Sanchez, was not at the hearing to cross-examine Reynante Diaz, a witness for the prosecution.

"Unfortunately, Attorney Velandrez was not notified of today's hearing and didn't attend. And this prompted the court to cancel the hearing. Per our inquiry, the prosecution will be presenting Nonilo Arile next week, September 25, as their next witness," he says.

Sen. Leila De Lima, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center on drug charges that she says are politically motivated, says the government's claim that she has influence in New Bilibid Prison is "insanity in its most diabolical form." 

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered witnesses in the drug cases against her, among them convicts of drug-related crimes, transferred to the Marine barracks in Taguig City, saying there is a danger that De Lima's supposed allies at the national penitentiary.

"In Duterte's twisted mind, I'm that powerful! So powerful that I can actually command my alleged NBP ‘allies’ to harm or assassinate their fellow inmates! This is insanity in its most diabolical form!" De Lima, who communicates through handwritten notes sent through her staff, says.

She says the witnesses were transferred because the administration "[needs] to give them further special treatment in exchange for falsely testifying against me, if not to further threaten, coerce and pressure them into standing by their grossly fabricated tales about me. In sum, more orchestrated lies!"

"People know who are, and are not, the real victims of political persecution," Sen. Leila De Lima says of opposition to allowing her to attend Senate sessions via teleconferencing.

Sen. Bong Revilla, who was detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center on graft charges filed while De Lima was Justice secretary, is among the senators opposed to the resolution, which was filed by Sens. Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson.

Revilla has maintained he was a victim of selective justice under the Aquino administration.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto says he supports a resolution filed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson to allow Sen. Leila De Lima to participate in Senate sessions remotely.

"She may be imprisoned, but Senator Leila remains an incumbent, who, lest we forget, was elected by 14.1 million citizens of this country," Recto says in a statement released on De Lima's birthday.

"Her being behind bars, on charges she has not been convicted yet, should not be a bar in the performance of her duties, especially the aspect which, thanks to technology, can be rendered remotely," he says.

"If ordinary workers can now work from home, courtesy of the Telecommuting Law which President Duterte signed into law last December, then Senator de Lima can certainly do it from her prison cell," he says.

Sen. Leila De Lima, who is marking her third birthday at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, says that she is "wiser but humbler" at 60 years old.

"Life's detours and lessons have a palpable humbling effect," she says.

"I will however remain defiant, fighting for the causes of truth, justice and human rights."

She says she did not expect to turn 60 behind bars 

"Aside from imagining myself as a card holder (which I cannot use anyway while I remain locked up), I’ll be reflecting on my life’s triumphs and failures. Saan ako nagkulang, saan ako sumobra o nagmalabis," she says in a statement.

The family of opposition Sen. Leila de Lima prays for freedom and vindication for the solon as she celebrates her 60th birthday on August 27.

"Patuloy na ipinagdadasal ni Senator Leila de Lima, at ipinagdarasal din po namin. na sana po ay makalaya na siya kasi po wala naman po siyang kasalanan dun sa mga charge sa kanya," says Vicente de Lima II in a radio interview over DZRH's "Aksyon Kababaihan." 

"Isa din po na gusto niyang sabihin ay patuloy po ang pagmamahal niya sa ating bayan."

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima says that Jose Adrian "Jad" Dera, who was arrested after two years in hiding, is not related to her. 

"He’s not a nephew or an aide (“alalay”) or whatever. I don’t know this guy from Adam. No connections whatsoever to me," says De Lima.

"This story about his alleged delivery of money to me from Bilibid inmates is but another grand work of fiction. A never-ending tale of lies," she adds. 

Sen. Leila De Lima is in Iriga City in Camarines Sur after being granted furlough by the courts to visit her mother, who is critically ill.

According to TV reports, De Lima arrived in Legazpi City in Albay past 6 a.m.

Although the courts allowed her to leave the PNP Custodial Center, where she has been detained on drug-related charges, she is barred from giving media interviews, using communcation gadgets and from meeting political figures. 

Three courts have granted detained Sen. Leila De Lima's petition for furlough to visit her ailing mother.

Three Muntinlupa courts hearing the government’s drug cases against Sen. De Lima allow her to visit her ailing mother in Iriga City. | @kristinepatag pic.twitter.com/gPBLXypL9V

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) August 14, 2019

The Palace earlier said it would not interfere in pending cases and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the department would not oppose De Lima's request for humanitarian reasons.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson tweets in disagreement to detained Sen. Leila de Lima who says she foresees that the Senate will readily submit to the Duterte administration's charter change agenda.

"I will have to disagree with Sen. De Lima on this," Lacson says on the microblogging platform. "We crossed party lines to resist and fight all attempts by the [House of Representatives] to employ all the tricks and threats in their arsenal to railroad Charter change."

"We succeeded. There is no reason why we will fail in the 18th Congress," he adds.

De Lima earlier warned in a statement that the radical shift of the current form of government to federalism will happen if Monday's midterm election allows Duterte's allies to secure senate seats.

"Kapag nagtagumpay ang Pederalismo ni Duterte, sya mismo ay tila may maitim na balak na manatili sa pwesto hanggang sampung taon sa ilalim ng tinatawag na ‘transition period’ na nakasaad sa panukalang Cha-cha," De Lima said.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 approves detained Sen. Leila de Lima's request for a furlough so she can vote in the May 13 elections.

Vice President Leni Robredo says it is a "sad commentary of the state of our justice system" that Sen. Leila de Lima, an outspoken critic of the Duterte administration, can languish in detention for two years on drug charges, despite the glaring absence of physical evidence.

She adds in a statement that the accusations were based on the "mere say-so" of convicted drug dealers currently serving prison sentences in the national penitentiary.

"It both captures and mirrors the frustration of thousands of Filipinos, particularly those bereft of wealth or privilege, whose lives, freedom, and meager fortunes are ground down by a justice system that turns both slowly and erratically, and whose obscure movements seem only too pliant to those with power."

Today marks De Lima's second year in detention.

Robredo notes that the senator's detention was characterized by Philippine and foreign legal experts, as well as various international institutions, as "politically motivated" and "arbitrary."

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has resolved to send an official mission to look into the perceived political persecution of Sen. Leila de Lima, the senator's office says.

The IPU misison will also look into the government's moves to arrest Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, another critic of the Duterte administration.

De Lima's office says the union has adopted separate resolutions at the 139th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland last week expressing concern over the cases against De Lima and Trillanes.

De Lima is in government custody on drug-related charges while the government has revived cases against Trillanes after President Rodrigo Duterte voided amnesty granted to him for mutinies against the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003 and 2007.

Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 has rescheduled its hearing into drug-related charges against Sen. Leila De Lima. 

HEARING CANCELLED FOR 2ND TIME – Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima leaves the Court Room of the New Bilibid Prison, in Muntinlupa City after the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 cancelled for the second time its hearing on the trumped-up drug charges against her. pic.twitter.com/qnMvJjEflQ

— Leila de Lima (@SenLeiladeLima) October 2, 2018

It was reset, however, because lawyers for co-accused Ronnie Dayan and Joenel Sanchez failed to attend.

On the occasion of Sen. Leila de Lima's birthday, Amnesty International calls for the dropping of "politically motivated charges" against her and "ensure her immediate unconditional release."

In a statement, the human rights organization insists that charges against De Lima, who remains in detention, are "completely fabricated" and are based on "orchestrated lies."

"Amnesty International reiterates that Senator de Lima is a victim of political persecution, and that the charges against her clearly stem from her criticism of President Duterte's 'war on drugs.' which has resulted in extrajudicial execution of thousands of suspected drug offenders and other human rights violations," the group says.

New Senate President Vicente Sotto III visits detained colleague, Leila de Lima, who's a vocal critic of President Duterte.

"Binisita ko si Sen. De Lima para makita ang kanyang kalagayan," Sotto says in a statement.

"Pinagusapan din namin ang mga bills na kanyang sinusulong at kung papaano siya makakasama sa mga hearings," he adds.

Human rights organizations hail De Lima as a hero for her opposition to Duterte's brutal war on drugs and other controversial policies. They also maintain that the senator is a political victim detained on trumped-up drug charges.

The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court approved Sen. Leila de Lima’s request for a one-day medical break so she can go the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.

Sen. Leila de Lima on Saturday marked the first year of her detention at the Philippine National Police detention center in Quezon City.

Ahead of the anniversary of her arrest, the Senate minority and various rights groups called on the Philippine government to release her immediately.  

The Department of Justice initially charged De Lima for drug trading, but over the months, the state prosecutors filed motions to amend the charges and indict the senator on conspiracy to commit drug trading instead.

De Lima is known as one of the most outspoken critics of President Rodrigio Duterte's administration.