After almost seven years of legal battles, former senator Leila de Lima has been granted bail, expressing her enduring resilience with the words, “They may have taken years of my life, but they will never take my humanity.”

De Lima, a vocal critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, walked out of jail on bail following a Muntinlupa court’s decision to grant her petition in her third and final drug case. The court permitted De Lima and her co-accused, including former Bureau of Corrections director Franklin Bucayo, to post bail in the amount of P300,000.

“The judge released the order, granting the petition for bail for all of the five people accused,” confirmed De Lima’s lawyer Dino de Leon.

Detained at Camp Crame since 2017, just six months into her Senate post, De Lima expressed relief at the news, stating, “Finally, I will be set free. For years, my whole being has been crying out for freedom.”

Presiding Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 granted bail to De Lima and her co-accused in the last remaining drug case filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Duterte administration in February 2017. The charges allege conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading, involving the use of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

“The court is of the firm view and so holds that accused De Lima, Bucayu, Dayan, Sanchez, and Dera should be allowed to post bail,” read the decision, highlighting the prosecution’s failure to establish strong guilt.

This marks De Lima’s third and final drug case, with previous acquittals in February 2021 and May 2023. Notably, two state witnesses recanted their testimonies last October, further weakening the case against her.

Speaking emotionally after the court’s decision, De Lima reflected on her time in detention, saying, “Every moment was a test, and every single second was a fight to rise above the sorrow, the fears, the uncertainties of the future, and even – to be honest – the temptation to be overcome by hate and vindictive thoughts.”

International pressure for De Lima’s release has been ongoing, with the European Union Parliament, American lawmakers, and United Nations human rights experts condemning her detention as political persecution. Duterte, while insisting on her guilt, faced allegations of undermining Philippine democracy.

De Lima, who served as the chief of the country’s Commission on Human Rights in 2009 and later as justice secretary, faced legal troubles after investigating widespread killings of drug suspects under Duterte’s leadership. Despite years in isolation, she continued issuing statements critical of Duterte’s governance and advocating for human rights.

De Lima’s release comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Duterte’s drug crackdown, with more than 6,000 suspects killed, according to police records. Human rights groups argue the actual death toll is higher, leading to an International Criminal Court investigation into possible crimes against humanity.

De Lima, who faced obstacles in her political career, including being denied the opportunity to campaign for re-election in May last year, blamed Duterte for her challenges. Her resilience became even more evident when she survived a hostage situation orchestrated by Islamic State group-linked militants, highlighting her enduring strength even in the face of adversity.