The Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204’s decision to dismiss one of the drug cases against former Senator Leila de Lima.
In a ruling issued by the CA’s 8th Division, the court granted the petition for certiorari filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which challenged the dismissal of the case and the acquittal of De Lima. The appellate court emphasized that the trial court erred when it solely relied on the recantation of former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, a key witness in the case, as basis for De Lima’s acquittal.
According to the CA, Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara of RTC Branch 204 failed to identify the specific parts of Ragos’ testimony that were recanted and how these directly affected the prosecution’s case. The appellate court noted the absence of a clear explanation on which elements of the crime were supposedly unproven due to Ragos’ withdrawal of his earlier statements.
“It is difficult to determine how the decision to acquit De Lima was reached, given the lack of detailed discussion regarding the supposed retraction,” the court said in its decision.
Rafael Ragos had previously testified that he delivered drug money to De Lima during her time as justice secretary, but he later recanted, claiming he was coerced into lying.
De Lima’s camp expressed shock over the CA’s ruling and said they have yet to receive an official copy of the decision. Nevertheless, her legal team assured the public that they are prepared to pursue all available legal remedies.
De Lima, a staunch critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his war on drugs, has repeatedly denied all allegations against her, asserting that the charges were politically motivated.
She is currently the first nominee of the Mamamayang Liberal Party-list in the upcoming elections, and her camp remains hopeful that the justice system will eventually clear her name.
The reversal reignites legal battles surrounding De Lima’s long-standing drug cases and raises concerns among human rights advocates about the integrity of judicial processes in politically sensitive cases.