Monsignor Nono Sañada of the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church prayed for the candidates of the Otso DIretso as the candidates hold a sortie in Iriga City. INQUIRER.net photo / Pathricia Roxas
CAMARINES SUR, Philippines – The fight of the Otso Diretso senatorial candidates is the fight of detained Sen. Leila de Lima, former congressman Erin Tañada declared on Wednesday as they visit the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church in Iriga City.
“Ilalaban po namin ang laban ni Senator Leila at sana ipagdasal po natin na manatili syang matatag sa kanyang paninindigan. Ang laban po ng Otso Diretso ay laban din ni Leila de Lima,” Tañada told the crowd inside the church.
De Lima has been detained in Camp Crame in Quezon City due to drug-related charges since 2017. She has repeatedly dismissed the charges as politically motivated and trumped-up.
Four of the Otso Diretso candidates paid a brief courtesy call to Monsignor Nono Sañada of the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church before their scheduled dialogue with students at the Zeferino Arroyo High School Covered Court in Iriga City. The candidates present were Tañada, election lawyer Romy Macalintal, Muslim advocate and Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.
Sañada also prayed for and blessed the four senatorial candidates as well as the entire Otso Diretso slate as they embark into the 90-day election campaign period. /jpv
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