Duterte says court decision on de Lima’s acquittal should be respected

Former president Rodrigo Duterte said the court’s decision to clear former senator Leila de Lima of the third and last drug case against her after seven years, following her acquittal in two earlier cases, must be respected.

In a visit to Tacloban City, Duterte said De Lima’s acquittal should be welcomed as this shows that democracy is working, as reported on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

This comes as the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 granted the demurrer for failure of the prosecution to prove the guilt of all accused beyond reasonable doubt.

The former lawmaker filed her demurrer in March, where she asked the court to acquit and declare her not guilty for failure of the prosecution to prove their cause.

De Lima is now considering legal action to hold Duterte and other individuals allegedly behind her detention due to the charges related to illegal drugs.

In the same report, Duterte said not to lean in too much to remarks made by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who earlier said that there will be three Dutertes seeking senatorial seats in 2025— the former President, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, and Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte

He also said that he was not consulted by his daughter in her resignation from Marcos’ Cabinet, and that he will leave the 2028 elections up to God. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News