Leila de Lima

Leila de Lima
De Lima in 2016
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Chair of the Senate Electoral Reforms and People's Participation Committee
In office
July 25, 2016 – July 24, 2018
Preceded byKoko Pimentel
Succeeded byKoko Pimentel
Chair of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee
In office
July 25, 2016 – September 19, 2016
Preceded byKoko Pimentel
Succeeded byDick Gordon
56th Secretary of Justice
In office
June 30, 2010 – October 12, 2015
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
Preceded byAlberto Agra (acting)
Succeeded byAlfredo Benjamin Caguioa (acting)
Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights
In office
May 2008 – June 30, 2010
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byPurificacion Quisumbing
Succeeded byEtta Rosales
Personal details
Born
Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa Magistrado de Lima

(1959-08-27) August 27, 1959 (age 65)
Iriga, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Political partyLiberal (2015–present)
Mamamayang Liberal (2024–present) (partylist)
Other political
affiliations
Independent (2010–2015)
Aksyon (2001–2010)
SpousePláridel Bohol (annulled)
Children2
RelativesLilia de Lima (aunt)
Julie de Lima (aunt)
Alma materDe La Salle University (AB)
San Beda University (LL.B)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Leila Norma Eulalia Josefa Magistrado de Lima (born August 27, 1959[1]) is a Filipina politician, lawyer, human rights activist and law professor who previously served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. She was the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights from 2008 to 2010, before serving in President Benigno Aquino III's cabinet as Secretary of Justice from 2010 to 2015.

Known as a vocal critic of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, she was arrested in 2017 under charges linked to the New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal during her term as Justice Secretary.[2] Later that year, she was awarded the Prize for Freedom by the Liberal International. She was held in pretrial detention until November 13, 2023,[3] although she served out her remaining term as senator and filed legislation while held.

  1. ^ "6. ML" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Senator Leila de Lima arrested". Rappler. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Buan, Lian (November 13, 2023). "Leila de Lima gets bail, freedom soon". Rappler. Retrieved November 13, 2023.