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Mayen Jaymalin - The Philippine Star
May 17, 2025 | 12:00am
Former Sen. Leila de Lima in a press conference.
The STAR / File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Leila de Lima may still be proclaimed and assume her seat as the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list first nominee despite a Court of Appeals (CA) ruling reversing her acquittal in a drug case.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the poll body sees no reason to stop the proclamation of the ML party-list and De Lima as its first nominee as the conviction of the CA is not final.
A CA ruling can be subject to a motion for reconsideration, thus Garcia said it would be wrong to suspend De Lima’s proclamation.
Speaking with “Storycon” on One News yesterday, De Lima described as “unprecedented” the CA’s ruling ascribing grave abuse of discretion for a not well-written decision.
“That’s what makes the whole decision of the Court of Appeals perplexing. Even we are confused,” she said.
De Lima believes that her acquittal will not be overturned as the CA ruling merely focused on how Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 104 Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara wrote his 2023 decision.
“We do not agree that it was not a well-written decision. We reviewed again the RTC decision – it was clear, the case was disposed of properly,” De Lima pointed out.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified yesterday that De Lima’s acquittal remains in effect despite the CA’s decision remanding the case to the trial court.
DOJ spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano IV said the acquittal is “not reversible” and would likely remain “in status quo” as the CA’s decision is still subject to appeal.
“It is more of a remanding of the decision to clarify the decision. So, that’s the procedure,” Clavano said.
Proclamation
All 12 winning senators in the recently held midterm elections are set to be proclaimed today.
Garcia said the National Board of Canvassers will hold a full proclamation for all 12 winning senators at 3 p.m. today at the Manila Hotel.
The elected senators are Bong Go, Bam Aquino, Bato dela Rosa, Erwin Tulfo, Francis Pangilinan, Rodante Marcoleta, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Camille Villar, Lito Lapid and Imee Marcos. — Janvic Mateo, Ghio Ong, Elizabeth Marcelo
