MANILA (UPDATE 2) — A Muntinlupa court on Monday granted former Sen. Leila De Lima's demurrer to evidence in her last and third drug case, her lawyer Boni Tacardon tells media.

The grant of the demurrer to evidence, a motion arguing lack of evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, effectively dismissed the case.

Presiding Judge Gener Gito of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 granted the demurrer to evidence "for failure of the Prosecution to prove the guilt of all the accused beyond reasonable doubt."

Apart from De Lima, the court acquitted the following, who were co-accused in the case:

— Franklin Jesus Bucayu

— Ronnie Palisoc Dayan

— Joenel Tan Sanchez

— Jose Adrian Tiamson Dera

'I CAN SLEEP SOUNDLY NOW'

De Lima, speaking to reporters after the decision was handed down, said she was filled with relief and joy at her acquittal.

"Mas mapapanatag at makakatulog na ako nang mas maluwag (I am more confident and will be able to sleep more soundly). With the grant of our demurrer to evidence, which is tantamount to acquittal, that means I am now completely free and vindicated. It's very liberating," she said.

"Alam niyo naman ito, I respected the rule of law despite the pain and the injustice of it all. I confronted the charges head on and I went through and endured the whole process," she also said.

Other smaller cases against her have also been dismissed, including a disobedience to subpoena case initiated by leaders of the House of Representatives in 2017 that had been pending for the past seven years.

"So all of these criminal cases are gone. That's why I'm so happy," she said.

De Lima expressed thanks to the court, her family and her supporters, some of whom gathered in front of the RTC building.

As to her immediate plans, De Lima said she will help with the International Criminal Court investigation into alleged crimes of humanity in the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Tumutulong ako diyan, tutulong ako (I am helping there, I will help there)," she said.

"And kaya nga yung naging mensahe ko kay Ginoong Duterte, siya ngayon ang mananagot, kailangan panagutin dahil wala namang nangyayari dito sa Pilipinas. Kaunting-kaunti lang yung napo-prosecute at nako-convict," she said.

(And that is the message to Mr. Duterte, that he will now be held accountable — must be held accountable because there is no progress on extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. Very few are prosecuted and very few are convicted.)

READ: Court finds four Philippine police guilty in drug war killings

The cases, filed during the Duterte administration and which De Lima has long maintained were politically motivated, put the senator in detention for most of her term. — from reports by Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

This is a developing story