Undaunted by years of detention, De Lima seeks Senate reelection
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:23 p.m.) — Detained Sen. Leila de Lima is gunning for another six years in the Senate, filing her candidacy before the Commission on Elections through a representative Friday.
Lawyer Dino de Leon, the senator's representative and spokesperson, filed her Certificate of Candidacy at 9:45 a.m., Friday, her office told reporters.
De Lima, an outspoken critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, has so far spent 1,687 days at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on drug cases that she holds as politically motivated and trumped up.
De Lima was acquitted earlier this year in one of three drug cases against her. The two others remain pending in separate courts after more than four years.
Five judges have voluntarily inhibited from De Lima's cases, according to her office. Two others opted for early retirement.
Since her arrest in 2017, she has not been allowed to participate in Senate plenary sessions or hearings.
Even after the upper chamber shifted to holding hybrid sessions in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205 in June denied De Lima's request to participate through videoconference.
This was despite the senator's assertion that she is still in full possession of her civil and political rights, noting that the cases filed against her are still at the trial stage and she has yet to be convicted of any crime.
De Lima is one of five senatorial candidates endorsed by the Liberal Party. She is also one of four minority members of the Senate.
'One more term to seek justice, hold Duterte accountable'
De Lima, in a statement in Filipino read out by De Leon, said she would continue to further the following advocacies if reelected:
- Social justice
- Human rights
- Criminal justice reform
- Good governance and rule of law
- National sovereignty
She also said she was running to hold Duterte accountable for alleged human rights violations, corruption, and treason. De Lima said she would seek to restore the country's democratic institutions which she accused Duterte of destroying.
Before winning her Senate seat in 2016, De Lima was justice secretary under President Benigno Aquino III from 2010 to 2015.
As chairperson of the Senate committee on justice, she opened a probe on alleged extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte's flagship campaign against illegal drugs.
She was later ousted from the chairmanship upon the motion of Sen. Manny Pacquiao and replaced by Sen. Richard Gordon.
Follow this thread for updates on the aspirants for local and national posts in the May 2022 elections. — Main photo by The STAR/Boy Santos
Former senator Bongbong Marcos, with 56%, maintains his lead in the Pulse Asia pre-election survey conducted from April 16 to 21.
Vice President Leni Robredo ranks second with 23% followed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao with 7%.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno ranks fourth with 4% and Sen. Ping Lacson is in fifth place with 2%.
The latest Pulse Asia pre-election survey shows that former senator Bongbong Marcos remains the top choice of 60% of Filipinos for president.
Vice President Leni Robredo ranks second with 16%, followed by boxer-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno with 8% each.
Sen. Ping Lacson is in the fifth place with 4%. The poll was conducted from January 19 to 24 using face-to-face interviews.
Larry Gadon, a candidate for senator, is accused of violating Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act after he was seen in a viral video cursing at a journalist, according to a report by ABS-CBN.
The complaints, which include libel and cyberlibel charges, were filed by freelance investigative journalist Raissa Robles. Gadon had accused her of spreading fake news in a separate video.
The Supreme Court last month suspended Gadon for profanities he hurled at Robles in the earlier video.
Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan will hold their proclamation rally in Naga City, Camarines Sur on February 8, campaign manager Erin Tanada says.
Tanada adds that the opposition camp will also hold proclamation rallies in different areas in Bicol region on from February 8 to 9.
All 12 senatorial bets endorsed by Robredo are also invited to the event.
Makabayan coalition holds press briefing on their endorsement of the tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. — Xave Gregorio
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