A Philippine court rejected on Wednesday a request for bail by a former opposition senator and justice secretary who criticized then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly crackdown on illegal drugs and instead was accused by his administration of drug dealing and was jailed more than six years ago.
U.S. and European legislators have demanded the release of former Sen. Leila de Lima, 63, currently the Philippines' most prominent prisoner, especially after she was taken hostage last year by three Muslim militants in their failed attempt to escape from prison.
