Leila attends online memorial service for Dinky

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima attended the online memorial service for former social welfare secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman on Thursday after the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 256 partially granted her “e-furlough” to pay her last respects to the deceased.

While the Muntinlupa court allowed De Lima, who is detained on drug charges, to attend via Zoom the online memorial service, she was barred from giving a eulogy, comment, media interview and any form of communication at any time during the furlough.

De Lima’s former colleagues in the Aquino Cabinet at one point asked her to sing several songs, but since her microphone was muted by the PNP Custodial Center personnel, she just waved her hands to the tune of “Betcha by Golly Wow” by the Stylistics and “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor being sung by her colleagues.

Former presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who served as the moderator during the event, acknowledged De Lima’s presence, saying the senator would have been the first to give a message for Soliman had she been allowed by the court.

Attendees, including Soliman’s husband, lawyer Hector Soliman, sent their regards and love to De Lima, who was clad in a black and white dress with her signature scarf, and wore a face mask and face shield.

“I hope you’ll be freed. We’ll always pray for you… You have an ally. Let’s pray for each other so we would all be fully freed from our situation,” Soliman’s husband said.

Other attendees sent their messages for the senator via Zoom chatbox such as “We are praying for you, Sen. Leila” and “Laban (fight) Leila.”

De Lima filed a “very urgent motion for e-furlough” last Sept. 22 asking the court to allow her to attend the online memorial service for Soliman, who passed away last Sept. 19, and to personally give her eulogy.

In his order, Judge Romeo Buenaventura of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 prohibited De Lima from giving her eulogy during the online memorial service, saying that there is a “great likelihood that whatever the accused may say during the online memorial service will pique the interest of the media and the public in general given her public stature.” –