The Court of Appeals (CA) in the Philippines has reversed the acquittal of former senator Leila de Lima in a significant ruling concerning her alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

De Lima has been detained since February 24, 2017, under allegations of participating in illegal drug activities linked to the New Bilibid Prison during her tenure as the Secretary of Justice.

In a decision made public on May 15, 2025, but promulgated on April 30, the CA's 8th Division ruled in favor of a petition for certiorari brought forth by the Office of the Solicitor General.

This petition sought to nullify the May 12, 2023 ruling of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) that had acquitted De Lima and her co-accused Ronnie Dayan.

The appellate court found that the RTC's decision was marred by grave abuse of discretion, stating that the trial court failed to properly assess the prosecution’s evidence and neglected to address the legal bases supporting the acquittal.

The CA emphasized that without an adequate explanation or thorough analysis of the evidence, the judge's decision lacked the necessary clarity and rationale required by law.

De Lima's acquittal had been primarily based on the recantation of testimony from Rafael Ragos, a former Bureau of Corrections official, who had originally implicated her in the drug trade.

While Ragos indicated that he had been coerced into providing his original testimony, the CA noted that the RTC judge did not sufficiently evaluate how this recantation affected the case against De Lima, particularly regarding the establishment of conspiracy charges.

The CA pointed out that the trial judge did not articulate the specific aspects of Ragos's testimony that were retracted, the implications of these retractions on proven facts, nor did it clarify which elements of the crime had not been substantiated.

The court emphasized the need for thorough due process, requiring judges to offer detailed explanations of their decisions to ensure transparency and adherence to legal standards.

Following the CA's decision, the case has been remanded to the Muntinlupa RTC for further proceedings in line with the appellate court's directives.

De Lima’s legal team has expressed their intention to file a motion for reconsideration and is prepared to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court if necessary.

This reversal comes after De Lima's previous legal victories, including the dismissal of another drug case against her in June 2024. Throughout her legal battles, De Lima has maintained that the charges against her were politically motivated, claiming that the actions were part of a broader campaign to undermine her as a vocal critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.

De Lima, who was recently elected to the House of Representatives, has been appointed as a member of the prosecution team in an ongoing impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Despite the challenges she faces, De Lima asserts that she remains committed to her public service and will continue to advocate for justice and reform.