SEVERAL business groups on Friday called on the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to take the necessary steps that would pave the way for the immediate release of former Senator Leila de Lima from detention.
“We believe the justifications for her detention by the previous administration have long disappeared, as witnesses recanted their testimonies,” they added. Remulla said he told the EU lawmakers that one of the possible legal steps that the De Lima camp may avail of is the filing of habeas corpus petition, which earlier paved the way for the release of lawyer Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, former chief of staff of then senator and now chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile.
As an alternative, De Lima’s lawyer Teddy Esteban Rigoroso asked the court to grant the former senator and Dayan their right to post bail. “Given her innocence, as now plainly revealed in Ragos’ April 30, 2022 affidavit, freely and voluntarily executed, affirmed in open court and subjected to, and hurdled, the crucibles of lengthy cross-examination, accused De Lima must now be spared from further inconvenience, expense, pain, anxiety and the ignominy of prolonged trial proceedings through outright dismissal of the instant case,” the 33-page motion read.