MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said she hoped Sen. Leila de Lima would soon be cleared of drug charges that led to her detention so that she could fulfill her duties as lawmaker.

De Lima, outspoken critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, was accused by convicts at the national penitentiary of pocketing drug payoffs when she was still justice secretary during the previous administration.

She has denied this several times, calling the allegations political persecution. De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since February 2017.

"Sana finally madesisyunan na ang kaso kasi alam naman natin na baseless. Na-deprive hindi lang si Sen. De Lima pero 'yung taumbayan ng serbisyo kasi elected senator siya,” Robredo said.

(I hope that the case would be decided soon because we know that it's baseless. Sen. De Lima was not the only one who has been deprived, but the public too because she is an elected senator.)

Robredo said she was praying for De Lima's ailing 86-year-old mother, who the opposition lawmaker visited in Iriga City Thursday after being granted a 48-hour furlough.

• 'You're Leila': De Lima has joyful reunion with sick mom

De Lima is not entitled to bail and, if found guilty, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

She has filed bills from her detention cell at the national police headquarters, but has been unable to participate in plenary sessions.

• Drilon, Lacson seek to allow De Lima to join Senate debates