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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Senator Leila De Lima, one of the staunchest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been in jail since 2017 on allegations she used drug money for her senatorial campaign in 2016, when she was Justice secretary.
But De Lima and human rights groups believe the drug charges against her were fabricated to silence her for investigating the administration's bloody war on drugs. Malacanang has repeatedly denied De Lima's allegations, saying the charges against her are being tried by the country's independent courts.
Last February 17, the detained senator was acquitted in one of her three drug cases. The other two are still pending at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court.