UN rights panel urges Philippines to free De Lima on bail
MANILA, Philippines — The UN Human Rights Committee is urging the Philippines to let former Sen. Leila de Lima out on bail as it raised concerns over reports of her “extremely lengthy pretrial detention.”
In an advanced copy of its 13-page report, the UN panel composed of human rights experts said the Philippines “should take necessary steps to end the prolonged pretrial detention of former Sen. Leila de Lima, including through granting her bail.”
De Lima has been detained since 2017 on illegal drugs charges she claims are trumped up. She has been acquitted in one of three charges and some key witnesses against her have since recanted their testimonies.
READ: Ragos says he was forced to testify vs De Lima
Meanwhile, the panel also raised concerns over “politically motivated charges” of rebellion and sedition against former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and former Vice President Leni Robredo.
“The [Philippines] should refrain from using criminal laws as a tool to harass, intimidate and exclude members of the opposition from meaningful participation in public life and electoral processes,” it said.
Rebellion charges against Trillanes were revived in 2018 when then-President Rodrigo Duterte revoked the amnesty granted to the fierce opposition lawmaker by his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III.
READ: Trillanes wins at Court of Appeals: Ruling reviving rebellion case reversed
Robredo and other members of the opposition, meanwhile, faced conspiracy to commit sedition raps which were ultimately thrown out by government prosecutors. — Xave Gregorio
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