Former Sen. Leila de Lima (Photo from her Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Leila de Lima is giving her support to the National Decongestion Summit which aims to discuss solutions to overcrowding in detention facilities.
“It’s a big thing in changing the lives of PDLs [persons deprived of liberty] for their welfare to be taken care of and their rights to be respected,” de Lima said in Filipino in a post on Wednesday on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The summit takes place on on Dec. 6 and 7.
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De Lima also expressed support for the launch of the Human Rights Office and Gender Protection Office under the Department of Justice on Tuesday.
“I laud and appreciate DOJ’s setting up of its Human Rights Office and Gender Protection Office. Delivery of justice is certainly enhanced by a mindset of respect for human rights,” she said.
“But this does not end in the creation of office; it is much more important that their goals are met. This is why I have been pushing to strengthen the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights,” she continued.
“It’s clear that there is no justice if there is no respect for dignity and human rights.”
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In November, a Muntinlupa court allowed de Lima to post bail for her only remaining drug case. Before that, she had been detained in Camp Crame since 2017.