CITY OF MALOLOS—The melody wasn’t bad, but the lyrics didn’t sound right, at least for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
At a visit to the Bulacan provincial jail here, inmates rendered a song written by one of them to De Lima as their advance gift for her 52nd birthday today (Saturday).
It was unmistakably written only for De Lima and given the simple title “Leila de Lima.”
“The song is very catchy. I can’t express my happiness with the song that you made for me. This is my most memorable birthday in my entire life,” she told the inmates.
Like a campaign jingle
But after listening to the song and praising the inmates for what she said was her best birthday gift yet, the justice secretary gave it a second thought.
Although it’s beautiful, De Lima said, “the song sounds like a campaign jingle.”
“If my detractors hear about this song, they’ll quickly say I have come up with a campaign jingle for the elections. They might accuse me of electioneering even though the polls are to take place in two years,” she said.
Not running for senator
De Lima quickly told the inmates she wasn’t running. “There is no truth to rumors that I will run for senator,” she said, addressing her admirers.
She said, however, that she understood the inmates’ affection for her because she advocated for their right to vote in the 2010 elections.
“I was one of the people who advocated for your right to vote. There can be no justice without human rights and there can be no human rights without justice,” she said in a short speech.
The song was written by an inmate, Rick Ibera, a former policeman jailed for a drug-related case.
While De Lima shunned further talk about her political plans, she might just find the song useful should she decide to run for senator.
Upbeat tempo
It’s more memorable line reads: “Secretary De Lima, number one sa kasipagan, katapatan at katotohanan (Secretary De Lima, number one for her industry, courage and dedication to truth).”
The song had an upbeat tempo and the inmates swayed and swung as they waved their hands while singing.
De Lima couldn’t resist the temptation and joined the dance. Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon