Manila, May 15 -- The Court of Appeals (CA) has nullified the decision of a Muntinlupa regional trial court to acquit Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima on one of the three drug charges against her.

In a 12-page decision dated April 30, the CA's Eighth Division granted the petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General and remanded the case to Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 "for it to decide the case in accordance with the rules."

On May 12, 2023, the Muntinlupa court said the retraction of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Rafael Ragos cast reasonable doubt on de Lima's involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

"(I)n order for a judgment or decision in a criminal case to have a legal and binding ef...