Jailed under Duterte, Philippine politician sends dire warnings on democracy
A couple dozen diehard well-wishers came to cheer on former Philippine Senator Leila de Lima in August after another one of her many court appearances. As she was led to the police bus taking her back to jail, the supporters yelled, "Free her!" and "Fake evidence!"
It happened to be on the eve of her birthday. Over cries from the crowd of "happy birthday," someone asked her birthday wish. "Always freedom and vindication — soon," de Lima brightly replied.
De Lima, who was the country's justice secretary from 2010 to 2015 and then a senator, turned 63 on Aug. 27. It was her sixth birthday in jail.
Supporters insist she is being framed for exposing abuses in then-President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs — the subject of an investigation at the International Criminal Court into possible crimes against humanity.
De Lima has neither been convicted nor exonerated of an array of allegations — including that she received drug moneySome of the drug-linked accusations have fallen apart, with the prosecution's witnesses retracting their statements. A range of people, from Philippine human rights activists to American lawmakers, are advocating for de Lima's release.
