De Lima to re-file bills on human rights, social justice in 18th Congress

Senator Leila De Lima. (File photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquier)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Leila de Lima is set to re-file some of her priority bills on Monday, as she vows to continue her advocacy on human rights and social justice.

Among these are the Human Rights Defenders Bill and the Prison Reform Bill.

“Despite the challenges and roadblocks, we will continue our mission of beefing up human rights and social justice in the country in the 18th Congress,” De Lima said in a statement on Monday.

De Lima maintained that the passage of the said measures is “crucial” as the Filipino people need the “utmost and ample protection from the excesses” of the Duterte administration.

The Human Rights Defender Bill aims to institutionalize and enforce state obligations for the protection of the rights of human rights defenders while the Prison Reform Bill seeks to institutionalize prison reform and restorative justice in the country’s correctional system to ensure that the rights of persons deprived of liberty are protected.

The detained senator will also re-file the Criminal Investigation Bill, Unified Corrections and Jail Management Bill, Commission on Human Rights Charter, Magna Carta for Day Care Workers, Reclusion Perpetua Bill and National Commission for Disability Bill.

She is also expected to file two new measures such as the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers and Comprehensive Law on the Statement on Assets, Liabilities, and Net-Worth (SALN). (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)