Joint LI and CALD Statement on Philippine Senator Leila de Lima

Earlier today, 9 October 2022, former Philippine Senator Leila de Lima was held hostage in a jail rampage which resulted in the death of three inmates and serious injuries to one policeman and another inmate. One of the three inmates reportedly ran to the cell of the former legislator, blindfolded her and aimed a blunt object to her chest after his two co-inmates were killed by the police in their foiled escape attempt from the maximum-security detention facility. Senator de Lima was eventually released unharmed when the police shot and killed her hostage-taker.

The Bureau of Liberal International (LI) and the Executive Committee of Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) express serious concerns on the capability of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the safety and security of former Senator de Lima as evidenced by this incident. That she is still being detained together with suspected members of terrorist organizations is a travesty of justice, especially given the dubious charges against her.  Instead of the suggested transfer to another detention facility, the Marcos administration should withdraw the remaining charges against her so she could be immediately and unconditionally released.

Former Senator de Lima has already suffered enough for more than five years on charges that could not stand in court, as highlighted by the recent recantations of three key prosecution witnesses. For her to be subjected to this grave security lapse is too much. The only course of action should be to set her free.