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Advocates Philippines
United Nations Human Rights Council Body Call On Release Of Former Senator Leila de Lima
Photo credit: Atty. Leila de Lima
A panel from the Human Rights Council of the United Nations voiced their "grave disappointment" following a decision by a Philippine court to deny bail to former senator Leila de Lima, further extending her six-year detention despite the withdrawal of key witnesses against her.
The body emphasized their longstanding call for the immediate release of Leila de Lima and expressed their concern over the denial of bail after more than six years of arbitrary detention. They urged the administration of President Marcos Jr. to bring closure to the case, provide compensation and reparations, and investigate the circumstances that led to this prolonged detention.
Leila de Lima, who served as the chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights from 2008 to 2010 and as the Secretary of Justice from 2010 to 2015, has been in pre-trial detention since 2017. In August 2018, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that her detention was arbitrary and resulted from her personal beliefs and public statements regarding extrajudicial killings during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In September 2020, she submitted a bill to the Senate aiming to end extrajudicial killings, establish an independent investigation into summary killings, and provide compensation for victims.
They had previously welcomed de Lima's acquittal in one of the three cases against her on 17 February 2021. In May 2023, she was acquitted in the second case after key witnesses withdrew their evidence.
In a 2021 report, the Working Group stressed that personal liberty should be the norm and detention should be the exception, according to international human rights law. The experts emphasized that non-custodial measures should be prioritized for women, in line with international standards.
Expressing deep concern, the UN experts highlighted that de Lima's arbitrary detention, which has already persisted for six years, will continue following the denial of her bail application on 7 June 2023.
In its 2018 opinion, the UN Working Group determined that Senator de Lima's detention was a result of her exercise of the right to political participation, freedom of opinion and expression, thought and conscience. The process leading to her detention was found to have disregarded the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial.
The body emphasized their longstanding call for the immediate release of Leila de Lima and expressed their concern over the denial of bail after more than six years of arbitrary detention. They urged the administration of President Marcos Jr. to bring closure to the case, provide compensation and reparations, and investigate the circumstances that led to this prolonged detention.
Leila de Lima, who served as the chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights from 2008 to 2010 and as the Secretary of Justice from 2010 to 2015, has been in pre-trial detention since 2017. In August 2018, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that her detention was arbitrary and resulted from her personal beliefs and public statements regarding extrajudicial killings during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In September 2020, she submitted a bill to the Senate aiming to end extrajudicial killings, establish an independent investigation into summary killings, and provide compensation for victims.
They had previously welcomed de Lima's acquittal in one of the three cases against her on 17 February 2021. In May 2023, she was acquitted in the second case after key witnesses withdrew their evidence.
In a 2021 report, the Working Group stressed that personal liberty should be the norm and detention should be the exception, according to international human rights law. The experts emphasized that non-custodial measures should be prioritized for women, in line with international standards.
Expressing deep concern, the UN experts highlighted that de Lima's arbitrary detention, which has already persisted for six years, will continue following the denial of her bail application on 7 June 2023.
In its 2018 opinion, the UN Working Group determined that Senator de Lima's detention was a result of her exercise of the right to political participation, freedom of opinion and expression, thought and conscience. The process leading to her detention was found to have disregarded the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial.
Jun 18, 2023
