De Lima tells LP: Unite to fight threats vs democracy, people’s rights

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima on Friday called on her colleagues in Liberal Party to continue working together in combating threats against democracy and the rights of the people.

She made the statement during the 72nd anniversary of the erstwhile ruling party.

“Sa panahon man ng kadiliman at mapaniil na pamahaaan, nariyan ang LP at ang mga naninindigang miyembro upang ipagtanggol at ipaglaban ang ating kalayaan, demokrasya at mga karapatan,” De Lima said.

The detained senator noted that since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, thousands have been killed under the government’s “war on drugs” and individuals have been jailed for supposedly opposing the government.

Duterte’s war on drugs, which has claimed over 12,000 lives according to rights watchdog, has received strong criticisms at home and abroad.

The PDP-Laban dominated Congress is also pushing for charter change, which could possibly lead to the shift to federal form of government—one of Duterte’s campaign promises.

“Sa pananahimik at pagwawalang kibo ng marami nating pinuno at kababayan, lalong sinasagad ng kasalukuyang gobyerno ang pagyurak sa ating Saligang Batas at pagtapak sa ating karapatang pantao,” she said.

De Lima said that the event should bind the party and help them establish a “meaningful transformation” now that the liberal values of truth, democracy and justice are being “undermined” by the current administration.

“Higit pa sa ating pagiging ‘dilawan,’ higit pa sa hawak nating katungkulan o kapangyarihan, Pilipino tayong may obligasyon at nagmamalasakit sa kapwa Pilipino; Pilipino tayong nagnanais na maibalik ang ating pambansang dangal,” she said.

Many of LP’s former members bolted alliances and shifted to the now-ruling PDP-Laban after Duterte assumed presidency.

The opposition is currently detained at the police headquarters in Camp Crame after she was accused of protecting and coddling drug traders inside the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as justice secretary.

De Lima, who has repeatedly denied the charges, said that she is being politically persecuted by the current administration.