Philippines files drug-related cases against Duterte critic Senator de Lima
The senator allegedly received bribes and allowed a convicted felon to run a drug trading business from inside national prisons
More than 7,700 people have been killed in the narcotics crackdown since Duterte took office on June 30, about 2,500 in police operations, while the rest are being investigated.
Human rights groups believe many other deaths that police attributed to vigilantes were carried out by assassins likely colluding with police. The government and police vehemently deny extrajudicial killings have taken place.
Senator Leila de Lima, her former driver, two bodyguards and a former national prison official face arrest next week once a court has issued arrest warrants, Justice Minister Vitaliano Aguirre told a news conference.
These are not the product of politics, the cases were carefully studied
“These are non-bailable offences under the country’s anti-drug laws,” Aguirre said, adding that a guilty verdict would bring a penalty of life imprisonment. “These are not the product of politics, the cases were carefully studied.”
According to information filed at the Muntinlupa trial court in the south of Manila, the capital, de Lima received 5 million pesos (US$100,000) delivered to her home when she was justice minister in the years 2010 to 2016.