Senator Leila de Lima speaks at the St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. PHOTO FROM DE LIMA’S TWITTER ACCOUNT
Sen. Leila de Lima on Thursday called on Filipinos to stand up for truth and democracy and speak out against human rights abuses, amid a congressional inquiry linking her to illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary.
“I encourage every one of us to rise above our fear, speak up for what is right even if it is unpopular, stand up for our democratic ideals,” De Lima said in a forum on human rights and democracy at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila.
“I encourage the Filipino people to fight these evil elements from a moral high ground, to fight for the rule of law and the reign of justice. This is about our future, the future of our country, the future of our children,” she added.
De Lima lashed out anew at President Rodrigo Duterte and his men for their continued “incessant attacks” against her for probing alleged extrajudicial killings amid the government’s bloody war on drugs.
“This is what happens when someone opposes the President. Ayaw niyang may kumokontra sa kanya kaya gusto nilang patahimikin gamit ang paninira at pag-iimbento ng istorya (He does not want anyone opposing him, so he and his allies use derogation and lies to silence his critics). There are also deliberate attempts to mislead the public,” she said.
READ: Duterte: De Lima will surely be jailed
“I know they are doing this to beat me down, discourage me from investigating the alarming state of events in our country… Despite all these vicious attacks and malicious fabrications, I have to continue standing against these people because I do not want to give them pleasure of seeing me beaten,” De Lima added.
READ: De Lima: Duterte is misogynist, chauvinist
De Lima said the administration’s war on drugs has turned into a war against her, which she said had been deflecting national attention and resources from more pressing social issues.
“My indignation goes far beyond the attacks on my character and person… If they want bad publicity in the international media to end, the killings must stop now. I am just doing my duty. I’m just trying to help. I want Filipinos to know the truth,” she said.
The lady senator warned that the spate of unresolved deaths in the country may give children the wrong signal that killing is good.
“Kung magpapatuloy ang mga insidente ng patayan, anong aasahan nating magiging kulturang gagalawan ng susunod na henerasyon (If the culture of killing continues, what can we expect for the future generations to emulate)? If Rodyness, or rudeness is the new normal, then what values are we teaching our children nowadays?” De Lima said.
“Hindi ko lang po it laban. Laban ito ng mga biktima ng karahasan. Laban ito sa walang katarungan. Laban ito ng kababaihan. Laban ito para sa demokrasya (This is not my fight alone. This is the fight of victims of violence. This is the fight of the oppressed. This is the fight of women. This is a fight for democracy),” she added.
De Lima urged all concerned sectors to join her in her fight and stand up for what is right and just, saying she would continue doing her job even if her detractors succeed to put her in jail.
“Makakaasa pa kayo ngayon hanggang sa sususnod na taon magiging tapat sa aking tungkulin ikulong man nila ako. Gagawin ko ito hindi bilang isang senador kundi bilang isang ina at Pilipino … Join me in this fight,” she said. IDL/rga