Leila de Lima

Leila de Lima remains one of the most consequential voices in Philippine public life, known internationally for her advocacy for human rights, the rule of law and democratic accountability. A former Secretary of Justice and former Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, she became one of the strongest critics of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign—a stance that led to her arrest and nearly seven years of legal battles. Despite her detention, De Lima continued to speak, write and defend democratic values from within the justice system she once helped lead. Her release and return to public service mark not only a personal milestone but a symbolic shift in the long fight for due process.

Now serving as representative for the Mamamayang Liberal Party-list, De Lima continues to champion institutional reform, rights-based policymaking and the protection of democratic principles. She has taken her advocacy back onto the global stage, including a keynote address at F&F 2025, reaffirming her voice in pressing political discourse.

On July 23, 2025, government prosecutors formally withdrew their appeal of her acquittal in one of the major drug cases filed against her—a development widely viewed as the closing of a critical chapter in her legal journey. De Lima has since filed administrative cases to hold accountable those who brought what she maintains were politically motivated charges, asserting that justice must not only be served but protected.

Today, she stands as a symbol of endurance and conviction in public service—a reminder that principled dissent, when grounded in integrity, can withstand even the most formidable pressures.