De Lima marks 6th Easter in detention with 'renewed hope'

ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Former senator Leila de Lima greets supporters as she arrives for her bail hearing at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Feb. 27, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/03/20/20230320-de-lima.jpg' ><figcaption>Former senator Leila de Lima greets supporters as she arrives for her bail hearing at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Feb. 27, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA — Former senator Leila de Lima on Sunday marked her sixth Easter in detention, saying she had a "renewed and stronger Hope" despite being behind bars.</p><p>"In the risen Lord Jesus Christ, our God of Justice, I surrender completely my fate, with an unshakeable conviction that He will make things right and beautiful at the end of my most painful yet purifying journey," de Lima said in a <a href='https://www.facebook.com/leiladelimaofficial/posts/pfbid0LJCzJDNv7xjXQKvkR3oxZQqVCgkzS9KsHk6QqQutEbEikdLQMmSh3Y3WVzjqy9wsl'>Facebook post</a>.</p><p>Her statement came weeks after the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 concluded its hearings on her bail petition for her temporary release.</p><p>De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since 2017 over charges of alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade.</p><p>In 2022, several key witnesses to her case, including self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, recanted their testimonies against her. As a result, the Department of Justice said it was "reviewing" her case.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/03/22/doj-reviewing-de-lima-cases-as-more-witnesses-recant'>DOJ reviewing De Lima cases amid witness recantations</a></li></ul><p>The former senator ran for reelection in the May 2022 polls but lost.</p><p>She marked her 6th year in detention last February, saying she would soldier on as she believed her "vindication" was imminent.</p><p>"I strongly believe that my vindication is at hand... But even if they continue to try to silence me, I refuse to cower," De Lima had said in a statement.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/24/23/de-lima-sees-vindication-at-hand-on-6th-year-of-detention'>De Lima believes 'vindication at hand' on 6th year in 'unjust' detention</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/27/23/de-lima-continues-to-seek-freedom-on-6th-year-in-prison'>De Lima continues to seek freedom on 6th year in prison for drug charges</a></li></ul><p>Several groups, including the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights continue to call for her release over what has been described as "politically motivated" charges.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/27/23/drop-politically-motivated-charges-vs-de-lima-bello-group'>Drop 'politically-motivated' charges vs De Lima, Bello: group</a></li></ul><p><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OT-2Y4fb4ug?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since 2017 over charges of alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade.</p><p>In 2022, several key witnesses to her case, including self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, recanted their testimonies against her. As a result, the Department of Justice said it was "reviewing" her case.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/03/22/doj-reviewing-de-lima-cases-as-more-witnesses-recant'>DOJ reviewing De Lima cases amid witness recantations</a></li></ul><p>The former senator ran for reelection in the May 2022 polls but lost.</p><p>She marked her 6th year in detention last February, saying she would soldier on as she believed her "vindication" was imminent.</p><p>"I strongly believe that my vindication is at hand... But even if they continue to try to silence me, I refuse to cower," De Lima had said in a statement.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/24/23/de-lima-sees-vindication-at-hand-on-6th-year-of-detention'>De Lima believes 'vindication at hand' on 6th year in 'unjust' detention</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/27/23/de-lima-continues-to-seek-freedom-on-6th-year-in-prison'>De Lima continues to seek freedom on 6th year in prison for drug charges</a></li></ul><p>Several groups, including the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights continue to call for her release over what has been described as "politically motivated" charges.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/27/23/drop-politically-motivated-charges-vs-de-lima-bello-group'>Drop 'politically-motivated' charges vs De Lima, Bello: group</a></li></ul><p><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OT-2Y4fb4ug?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>"In the risen Lord Jesus Christ, our God of Justice, I surrender completely my fate, with an unshakeable conviction that He will make things right and beautiful at the end of my most painful yet purifying journey," de Lima said in a <a href='https://www.facebook.com/leiladelimaofficial/posts/pfbid0LJCzJDNv7xjXQKvkR3oxZQqVCgkzS9KsHk6QqQutEbEikdLQMmSh3Y3WVzjqy9wsl'>Facebook post</a>.</p><p>Her statement came weeks after the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 concluded its hearings on her bail petition for her temporary release.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Former senator Leila de Lima greets supporters as she arrives for her bail hearing at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Feb. 27, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/03/20/20230320-de-lima.jpg' ><figcaption>Former senator Leila de Lima greets supporters as she arrives for her bail hearing at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on Feb. 27, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br>MANILA — Former senator Leila de Lima on Sunday marked her sixth Easter in detention, saying she had a "renewed and stronger Hope" despite being behind bars.</p>

Former senator Leila de Lima on Sunday marked her sixth Easter in detention, saying she had a 'renewed and stronger Hope' despite being behind bars.

De Lima marks 6th Easter in detention with 'renewed hope' | ABS-CBN News

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De Lima marks 6th Easter in detention with 'renewed hope'

De Lima marks 6th Easter in detention with 'renewed hope'