Former senator Leila de Lima
MindanaoToday.com | De Lima Offers to Assist ICC in Duterte Case
Former senator Leila de Lima has expressed her willingness to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation into alleged crimes committed during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Her lawyer, Atty. Dino de Leon, confirmed that they have submitted evidence to the ICC, and De Lima is prepared to testify against Duterte. “Senator Leila de Lima is willing to cooperate with the ICC,” De Leon stated.
De Lima, a former justice secretary and human rights commissioner, was jailed from 2017 to 2023 at Camp Crame, Quezon City, over serious drug-related charges. She was accused of allowing illegal drug operations to flourish inside the New Bilibid Prison during her time as justice secretary—allegations backed by multiple witnesses. However, in June 2024, the charges were dismissed due to what the court deemed as insufficient evidence.
Before her arrest, De Lima was a vocal critic of Duterte, using her position as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the so-called Davao Death Squad. Despite her own legal troubles, she remained persistent in accusing Duterte of human rights violations, even while in detention.
Duterte, now 80 years old, is facing an arrest warrant from the ICC but voluntarily surrendered to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, Netherlands, on March 12, 2025, expressing confidence in facing the charges. Meanwhile, De Lima has offered to testify in The Hague, claiming she seeks justice.
While De Lima positions herself as an advocate for human rights, her involvement in the ICC case has drawn mixed reactions, with some questioning her credibility and whether her actions are driven by a personal vendetta rather than pure pursuit of justice.
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