Claim: Robredo will pardon De Lima if elected
Rating: FALSE
In this clip culled from SMNI, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=546648626872678 last May 5, outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that jailed senator Leila De Lima will be pardoned if Robredo wins.
This is false.
Pardons are executive clemency issued post-conviction for criminal charges (https://www.rappler.com/…/things-to-know-presidential…/).
However, Sen. Leila de Lima is currently not convicted of any crime and is instead facing multiple charges levied against her.
One of three drug cases levied against the senator has been dismissed (https://www.philstar.com/…/doj-chief-de-lima-conviction…), and the Department of Justice also cleared her of charges over sedition (https://www.rappler.com/…/251397-doj-resolution…/) alongside other members of the opposition, including Robredo herself.
Additionally, two key witnesses in the drug charges have recanted their statements on the supposed crimes, claiming coercion and pressure (https://www.gmanetwork.com/…/duterte-says-drug…/story/).
Given that there is currently no conviction, there would be no need or ability to issue a presidential pardon.
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