By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO, GMA Integrated News
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has withdrawn its motion asking a Muntinlupa court to reconsider its ruling that upheld the acquittal of Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima and her former driver Ronnie Dayan in a drug case.
De Lima’s camp said Wednesday that the prosecutors have filed the motion to withdraw.
“Comes now, the Prosecution, through the undersigned panel of Public Prosecutors and unto the Honorable Court, after consultation and upon the instructions of the Honorable Prosecutor General, most respectfully moves for the withdrawal of the Motion for Reconsideration,” they said in the 5-page motion dated July 23.
Prosecutor General RIchard Fadullon previously said that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla directed the panel to withdraw the motion for reconsideration.
In May 2023, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 acquitted De Lima and Dayan, saying the latter’s retraction cast reasonable doubt on De Lima and Dayan’s involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.
However, in May this year, the Court of Appeals declared null and void the decision and remanded the case back to the RTC.
In June, the RTC affirmed its decision to acquit De Lima and Dayan, prompting prosecutors to file the motion for reconsideration.
For her part, De Lima thanked the Justice department for the withdrawal. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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