President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. affirmed on Thursday that the dismissal of former Senator Leila de Lima’s drug charges underscores the effectiveness of the Philippine justice system.
Marcos highlighted the case’s outcome as evidence that the judiciary and investigative services in the country are functioning as intended. “Well maybe this is something we should show the ICC (International Criminal Court). The judiciary is working properly. Our investigative services are working properly and former Senator de Lima has been acquitted. I don’t know what further comments there could be. Dumaan siya sa paghusga, na-acquit siya,” Marcos stated in a GMA News Online report.
Marcos also reiterated the Philippine government’s stance on the ICC, asserting that the international body has no jurisdiction over the country. “We still stay with our position that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines because we have a working police force, we have a working judiciary and do not require any assistance in that regard,” he said.
The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 recently granted de Lima’s demurrer, leading to her acquittal on the third and final set of drug charges. The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. De Lima had filed her demurrer in March.