On Father’s Day, detained Senator Leila de Lima asked the public to remember and the honor the fathers killed under the Duterte administration war on drugs.
“Ipanalangin din natin ang mga ama at ang kanilang pamilya, na pinaslang nang walang kalaban-laban, lalo na ang mga inosenteng nadamay lamang sa pekeng War on Drugs ng rehimeng Duterte (Let us pray for the fathers who were killed under the Duterte administration’s fake war on drugs and its innocent victims),” De Lima said in a statement.
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De Lima also urged Filipinos to pray for the three priests killed in the last six months – Fr. Richmond Nilo, Fr. Mark Ventura and Fr. Marcelito Paez.
“Sinasalamin ng pagpaslang sa kanila ang kawalang-galang sa Diyos at sa Simbahang Katolika (Their ruthless murder killings reflects disrespect for God and the Catholic Church),” she said.
A staunch critic of the Duterte administration, De Lima emphasized that President Rodrigo Duterte has failed “to act as father to the Filipino people he promised to serve.”
“Sa madilim na yugto ng ating kasaysayan, makatutulong sana kung ang itinuturing na ama ng bayan ay siyang nangunguna sa atin sa liwanag. Pero kabaligtaran ang nangyayari, dahil siya pa ang mismong nagdadala sa atin sa dilim at kapahamakan (In a dark part of our history, it would help if the father of our nation would lead us into the light. But the opposite is happening because he is leading us himself into darkness and danger,” she said.
She said it is the duty of the people to work together to set the nation on the right path towards a peaceful and just society.
“Sa puntong ito, tungkulin nating mga mamamayan, bilang mga anak ng Inang Bayan, na itama ang mali at ituwid ang landas na ating tinatahak tungo sa kaayusan at katarungan sa ating lipunan,” she added.
De Lima also took the chance to honor her father, the late Commission on Elections commissioner Vicente de Lima, who had trained her to be strong amid challenges in life.
“Bilang anak, mapalad ako na magkaroon ng isang ama na responsable, disente, may takot sa Diyos at marangal na itinaguyod ang aming pamilya sa abot ng kanyang makakaya (I was lucky to have a father who was responsible, decent and god-fearing. He raised his family to the best of his ability),” she said.
The senator said she draws strength from him in her fight for justice and the rule of law.
She recalled her father’s words: “Huwag kang takakot basta’t alam mong nasa panig ka ng tama at makatarungan (Do not be afraid as long as you know you are right and just).” /ee
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