'Justice will come': jailed critic of Philippines' Duterte

Senator Leila de Lima has been pursuing Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte for almost a decade
Senator Leila de Lima has been pursuing Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte for almost a decade (AFP Photo/TED ALJIBE)

A year after being jailed on charges she insists were concocted to silence her, a top critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says she believes justice is coming.

Senator Leila de Lima has been pursuing Duterte for almost a decade, beginning with allegations he directed a death squad against suspected criminals while mayor of the southern city of Davao.

But now that the International Criminal Court has opened an initial probe into the deadly anti-drug war Duterte launched after becoming president 20 months ago, she says she has new reason to hope.

"I see the day justice will come. I hope for that day. The preliminary examination will eventually get to an indictment," De Lima told AFP at national police headquarters in Manila, where she is being held.

"I feel this is the start of my vindication, but true vindication comes when I am absolved of the charges," added the 58-year-old, who was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2017.

De Lima's detention, which began with her arrest on February 24, 2017, stems from allegations she took bribes from imprisoned drug lords while justice secretary from 2010-2015 under then-leader Benigno Aquino.


Source: Yahoo News