Like the mythical Janus, detained Sen. Leila de Lima is showing a different facet by projecting herself both as a human rights advocate and a victim of human rights violation.

This is contrary to government claims that De Lima was a protector of the illegal drugs trade in the National Bilibid Prison (NBP).

De Lima’s good image is being projected through the awards bestowed on her following her arrest on 24 February last year on three drugs-related charges.

Yesterday, the Liberal International (LI) recognized De Lima with its “Prize for Freedom” award. De Lima became only the second Filipino cited by the LI with that award after the late President Cory Aquino in 1987.

In May 2018, De Lima was also conferred with the “Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender” award during the Ignite Awards for Human Rights by the Amnesty International.

At the back of these recognitions, however, are three criminal cases De Lima is facing before local courts in connection with her alleged role in the proliferation of drugs inside the NBP which, if government sources are to be believed, had become the nerve center of the country’s illegal drug operations and was sustained mainly through bribes given to and received by government officials, including De Lima herself when she was still Justice secretary.

De Lima is charged with one count of violation of Section 5 of the Dangerous Drugs Act for the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of illegal drugs.”

This is in connection with allegations she and former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos extorted money from the Bilibid inmates involved in drugs operations.

De Lima is also charged with a second count of drug trade, along with former BuCor chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu and his staff Wilfredo Elli, inmate Jaybee Sebastian, De Lima’s driver and admitted lover Ronnie Dayan, her former security aide Joenel Sanchez and a certain Jad de Vera.

A third drug case was also filed against De Lima and De Vera for protecting and extorting money from high-profile inmate Peter Co.

The Daily Tribune looks back to the days and months that led to President Duterte’s expose about De Lima’s alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade, her arrest and detention before the subsequent awards she had been given that countered the allegations she was once the country’s drugs queen.

15 December 2014 – Authorities conducted a drug raid on the New Bilibid Prisons, leading to the discovery of “VIP treatment for some high-profile inmates and drug lords.” A big amount of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) was found along with various other illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia in many jail cells.

De Lima then conducted a media tour of the prison facility.

In the cell of convicted robbery gang leader Herbert Colangco alone, the raiding team seized three vaults containing five Rolex, one Patek Philippe, one Cartier and one Panerai watch worth several million pesos. He also possessed cash of various currencies and luxury wallet brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Hermes.

25 May 2016 – Shortly after his victory, President Duterte warned De Lima that he will look into and prove De lima’s involvement in the existence of shabu laboratories inside the national penitentiary.

21 July 2016 – Congress sought to probe the drugs syndicates operating within the Bilibid when De Lima was still Department of Justice secretary.

25 August 2016 – President Duterte directly linked De Lima to the drug trade. The Chief Executive said he had in his possession a “drug matrix” to prove his claim. Mr. Duterte then released the “drug matrix” which De Lima called a “scrap paper.”

20 September 2016 – The House Committee on Justice started its probe on the Bilibid drugs operations. De Lima refused to appear in what she called a “sham inquiry” at the House.

21 September 2016 – On just the second day of the probe, invited drug personalities who were inmates at the NBP claimed to have raised funds for De Lima’s 2016 senatorial bid.

6 October 2016 – A marathon hearing revealed De Lima received more drug payoffs. But claims of her relationship with her driver, Ronnie Dayan, hogged the headlines.

10 October 2016 – Sebastian claimed to have given De Lima P14 million in six months to fund De Lima’s senatorial bid.

24 November 2016 – The probe went to high gear as Dayan showed up at the hearings following his 23 February 2016 arrest in Pangasinan.

Dayan got all ears of the attendees as he related savory details of his relationship with De Lima.

17 February 2017 – Three drug complaints were filed against De Lima before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

23 February 2017 – Judge Juanita Guerrero of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 ordered the arrest of De Lima.

Warrants for the arrest of Dayan and Ragos were also released.

24 February 2017 – Almost without sleep after spending the night at the Senate, De Lima surrendered to police at around 8 a.m. and was brought to the Muntinlupa RTC before she was transferred to Camp Crame in the afternoon.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.