De Lima laments ‘new norm of rewarding villains, persecuting truth-seekers’

MANILA, Philippines — As the country honors the heroes who fought against tyranny and oppression, Senator Leila de Lima lamented how the current administration seem to “reward villains” but persecute those who “seek truth and justice.”

In her National Heroes Day’s message on Monday, De Lima said it is “our obligation to protect the freedom we inherited through their blood and sacrifice” in able to truly honor the contributions made by the nation’s heroes.

“Unfortunately, this is not what we are witnessing right now. It seems that the new normal for the current regime is to reward villains and crooked individuals, while those who seek truth and justice are persecuted,” the detained senator said.

“Pinapalaya ang mga kriminal at ipinakukulong ang mga inosente at lumalaban sa kabuktutan ng pamahalaan. Marami nang bata ang pinatay ng War on Drugs at daan-daan na rin ang namamatay dahil sa epidemya ng dengue,” she added.

De Lima issued the statement after the Bureau of Corrections and the Department of Justice earlier floated the possibility that convicted rapist-murderer and former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, as well as the New Bilibid Prison convicts-witnesses who testified against her, could be released allegedly due to good behavior. 

READ: Early Sanchez release sparks fear, anguish

But just recently, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he had ordered the suspension of the processing of the early release for good conduct of thousands of inmates.

READ: DOJ suspends early release of convicts

“Unti-unti na naman tayong sinasakop ng dayuhan, inaangkin ang mga trabaho para sana sa mga Pilipino, pero ang gobyerno, inuuna pa ang paninisi at panggigipit sa mga kritiko at nagsasabi ng katotohanan,”  De Lima went on.

READ: Even convict-witnesses vs De Lima entitled to new reduced prison term rule

She then called on Filipinos to uphold the principles the country’s heroes had fought for in the past.

“Hindi po ito ang bukas na inasam ng ating mga bayani,” she said. 

“Kaya naman patuloy kong dalangin at panawagan na magising na tayong muli at buhayin ang diwa at prinsipyong ipinaglaban nila para sa atin: ang malasakit sa kapwa Pilipino at panunumbalik ng dangal ng Pilipinas sa mata ng buong mundo,” she added. /je