The Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecution panel has filed a motion for reconsideration before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204, seeking to overturn its recent decision acquitting former Senator and now Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Representative Leila de Lima in one of her drug-related cases.
Led by Provincial Prosecutor Ramoncito Bienvenido Ocampo, the prosecution urged the court to reverse its acquittal of de Lima and her former aide Ronnie Dayan and instead render a guilty verdict.
The panel argued that the retraction of key witness Rafael Ragos should not be enough to invalidate his original testimony made under oath in open court.
“To set aside a testimony which was solemnly taken before a court of justice in an open and free trial and under conditions precisely sought to discourage and forestall falsehood simply because one of the witnesses… later on changed his mind would simply make a mockery of our criminal justice system,” the motion stated.
The prosecutors also claimed that the court failed to properly comply with the Court of Appeals’ April 30 order, which directed the RTC to clearly explain the legal basis for de Lima’s acquittal.
On June 25, Presiding Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara reaffirmed de Lima’s acquittal, citing that there was sufficient basis to clear her of the charges.
In response, de Lima expressed strong disappointment with the DOJ’s latest move.
“Put me in triple jeopardy after nearly 7 years in unjust detention? Hindi na lang katawa-tawa ang ginagawa nila, nakakagalit na,” de Lima said.