Supporters, colleagues mark De Lima’s 1,000th day of ‘unjust’ detention

Friends and supporters of detained Senator Leila de Lima gather at commission on human rights freedom park for an indignation run on the senator’s 1000 days of “unjust detention.” – Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande

MANILA, Philippines—Supporters and colleagues of opposition Senator Leila De Lima gathered to protest her “unjust” detention, 1,000 days since she was arrested on drug-related charges.

De Lima’s former and present colleagues, supporters, and friends arrived as early as 6:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) grounds in Quezon City to take part in an “indignation run” to call for her release and condemn what they called politically-motivated charges.

The indignation run started at around 8:00 a.m., beginning at the CHR grounds, leading to the area beside the UP Chapel where a Mass will be held for the senator.

Former President Noynoy Aquino at the indignation run for Senator Leila de Lima’s 1000 days of “unjust detention.” — Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande

Former lawmakers and opposition stalwarts Gary Alejano and Erin Tañada were among those who joined the run.

Former President Benigno Aquino III also graced the event to show his support to his former Justice Secretary.

The former chief executive said the event shows De Lima is not alone in her fight against the tramped up charges thrown against her by the administration.

“Lahat ng taong nagpunta dito pinapakita hindi siya nag-iisa. Napakaimportanteng tignan na ang tindi nung kampanya para sabihing iba siya sa atin, ‘yung mga nandito nagsasabing ‘hindi hindi siya iba sa atin’,” he said.

(Everyone in here shows she’s not alone. There’s tremendous campaign to isolate her but the people her are saying she’s one of us.)

Supporters and colleagues of opposition Senator Laila de Lima gather for an indignation run to mark the 1,000th day of her "unjust" detention.

De Lima was arrested in 2017 over her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade, an allegation she had denied. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/GhQFxX97f3

— Darryl John Esguerra (@drrylesguerra) November 19, 2019

A separate run was also held at De Lima’s hometown in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

De Lima, a staunch Duterte critic, has been in detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center since Feb. 24, 2017 on charges that she was involved in the illegal drug trade.

She has denied the charges, saying they were fabricated in retaliation for her fierce criticism of Duterte’s war on drugs and monitoring of his human rights record since the time she headed the Commission on Human Rights in 2008.

Edited by MUF