De Lima’s son, siblings to receive her ‘Prize for Freedom’ award

Senator Leila de Lima said her eldest son and siblings will receive her “Prize for Freedom” award from the Liberal International (LI) on Saturday.

De Lima is the second Filipino to receive the award after the late President Corazon Aquino.

LI regarded the senator as a “flag-bearer for human rights in the Philippines and beyond, setting a shining example for other human rights defenders.”

“Inasmuch as I personally want to grace the awarding ceremony to receive this prestigious Human Rights Prize, such is impossible because of my continued unjust detention under Duterte’s murderous regime,” De Lima said in a statement on Friday.

The senator has been detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City for her alleged involvement with illegal drugs.

“But I am happy that my son and siblings will be there to represent me,” she added.

De Lima said her eldest son, Israel, her two brothers Vicente “Vicboy” de Lima II and Vicente “Nonoy” de Lima Jr., and her sister, Caroline de Lima, are expected to accept the trophy and plaque for her.

In 1987, President Aquino also received the same award “for her world-renowned advocacy of democracy, peace, and the empowerment of women.”

According to LI, the award is given to “a well-known personality of liberal conviction who has made outstanding efforts for the defense of freedom and human rights.”   Alyssa Javier INQUIRER.net intern /muf