De Lima mourns death of alleged EJK victim’s son

Detained Senator Leila De Lima extended her sympathies to the family of 14-year-old John Paul Bueza Oledan, whose father was killed in 2016 for his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

JP, eldest of six children, succumbed to leukemia six months after he was first admitted to the hospital in April 2018.

“Nais ko pong ipaabot ang aking pakikiramay sa pamilya ni JP. Nakaabot po sa akin kung gaano katindi ang pinagdadaanan nilang kahirapan, na lalong pinabigat ng pagpaslang sa ama ni JP noong 2016,” De Lima said in a statement on Friday.

In a Facebook post, Baigani Community, a group who supported JP’s battle with leukemia, said JP’s life ended early because his family was unable to access adequate and timely health care due to poverty.

The death of his father, who used to support the family’s financial needs, further aggravated their situation, the group claimed.

De Lima said the appalling conditions of children who have been left orphaned, if not dead, since the government launched its war on drugs strengthens her resolve to continue speaking out against alleged extrajudicial killings and other injustices happening in the country.

De Lima, who is a known critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, also took a swipe at the Chief Executive’s recent move to promote Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to a Cabinet rank post after being hounded by the P11 million shabu shipment issue.

“Libu-libong mahihirap ang pinapatay sa katiting na gramo ng shabu pero kapag tone-toneladang shabu na ang nadiskubre, pinapalusot lang at pino-promote pa ng gobyernong ito ang mga nasasangkot,” De Lima said.

“Sa pamilya ni JP at sa marami pang biktima ng Tokhang at EJK, huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Sama-sama nating ipanalangin at pagsikapang marating ang araw ng hustisya, gayundin ang pagpapanagot sa mga salarin sa likod ng pekeng war on drugs na ito ng rehimeng Duterte,” she added.  /muf

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