Former senator Leila de Lima’s plea to be released on bail has been deferred by the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, according to her lawyer Atty. Bonifacio Tacardon. Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura of Branch 256 of the court has decided to address the formal offer of evidence before ruling on the bail petition. This means that if Presiding Judge Joseph Abrahan Alcantara of Branch 204 acquits de Lima of her other drug case on May 12, she will still remain in detention. Tacardon said that Branch 256 has scheduled a hearing on June 5, 19, and 26 to hear new witnesses in the case.
De Lima is accused along with former BuCor chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Bucayu’s former staff member Wilfredo Elli, inmate Jaybee Sebastian, Ronnie Dayan, de Lima’s former security aide, Joenel Sanchez, and a certain Jad de Vera of allowing illegal drugs trade inside the NBP’s maximum security compound from May 2013 to May 2015. In February 2021, Branch 205 of the Muntinlupa RTC dismissed one of the three-drug cases against de Lima.

Tacardon said that they remain hopeful that justice will prevail and that the bail petition will be resolved before the next hearing in June. He explained that the presentation of new witnesses is part of the evidence in chief of the prosecution but is not necessary for the resolution of the bail application.
The court’s decision to defer the ruling on de Lima’s bail petition is another setback for the former senator, who has been detained since February 2017 on drug charges. She has consistently denied the allegations and maintained that they are politically motivated. Her detention has been condemned by various human rights groups and international organizations.
De Lima’s case has also been a controversial issue in Philippine politics, with supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte accusing her of being involved in the illegal drug trade during her time as justice secretary under the previous administration. Her supporters, on the other hand, view her detention as an attack on the opposition and an attempt to silence critics of the Duterte administration.
De Lima’s case has been closely watched both locally and internationally, with human rights groups calling for her release and for a fair and impartial trial. The decision to defer the ruling on her bail petition is likely to further fuel speculation and debate on the merits of her case and the state of justice in the country.