De Lima celebrates New Year in detention; asks prayer for victims of injustices

Sen. Leila de Lima
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

For the first time, Senator Leila de Lima spent the holidays inside a detention cell.

In her New Year message, De Lima decried the alleged harassment committed against her, besmirching her reputation and putting her in jail over “made up” charges.

“Naiiba ang pagdiriwang ng aming pamilya ngayon sa pagsapit ng Bagong Taon dulot ng napakabigat na pagsubok na aming kinakaharap,” De Lima said in her latest statement issued from her detention cell at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center.

(My family is celebrating New Year kind of different this year, brought about by the serious challenges we are facing.)

“Ipinakulong ako sa mga inimbentong kaso, siniraan ang aking pangalan, at hindi pa nakuntento, patuloy pang niyuyurakan ng rehimeng ito ang aking mga karapatan,” she said.

(I was jailed based on trumped-up charges, bismirched my name, and not contented, this regime is continually violating my rights.)

De Lima also sympathized with the victims of the Duterte administration’s drug war, including innocent children, teenagers, widows and widowers.

“Malamang ay matamlay at puno ng pangamba ang pagsalubong sa 2018 ng napakaraming naulila, nabalo at nakaranas ng dahas sa malagim na kampanya. Saan sila kukuha ng pag-asa? Saan sila huhugot ng determinasyong harapin ang Bagong Taon?” she said.

(I believe the victims’ families are facing the year 2018 very gloomy and full of worries. Where would they get hope? Where would they gather determination to face the New Year?)

The former human rights commissioner also urged the public to join her in praying for the victims of injustices and those who were left behind by their loved ones who were killed in the drug war.

“Samahan ninyo po sana akong manalangin para sa mas maaliwalas na bukas para sa lahat — hustisya para sa mga biktima, kaligtasan para sa mga naiwan, at pagdadamayan ng mga Pilipino saanmang sulok ng mundo,” she said.

(Join me in prayer for a better tomorrow for every one–justice for the victims, safety for the ones who were left, and sympathy for the Filipinos all over the word.)

“Maging tunay na simula sana ang Bagong Taon para sa pagbabalik ng katinuan sa ating gobyerno, para sa pagkilala sa dignidad ng bawat Pilipino, at para sa pangingibabaw ng katotohanan at katarungan sa ating minamahal na bayan,” De Lima added.

(I hope that this would be a true start of the year for the return of normalcy in our government, for the real recognition of the dignity for each Filipinos, and for the truth and justice to prevail for our beloved country.) /jpv

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