De Lima acquittal should be accepted, says ex-Pres. Duterte

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) — The acquittal of former Senator Leila de Lima in one of her two remaining drug cases on Friday "should be accepted," said former President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Muntinlupa court acquits De Lima in 2nd drug case

Duterte also maintained he had nothing to do with the charges filed against De Lima—one of his fiercest critics.

"Frankly, I'm not interested in the outcome of the case as I have nothing to do with it," Duterte was quoted as saying by his former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo.

"I have never interfered with the judicial process. I always say let the law take its course," the former president added.

The first drug case against De Lima was junked in 2021.

The former senator has been in detention since February 2017 on what she and her allies described as trumped-up drug charges. Duterte—when he was president—accused De Lima of involvement in the illegal drug trade.