Rep. Tom Villarin (center) speaks on behalf of Senator Leila De Lima in a press conference in Cebu City on February 25, 2022.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Senator Leila De Lima urged Cebuanos to continue fighting for justice, as the country celebrates the 36th anniversary of the EDSA revolution.
Congressman Tom Villarin, the official representative of De Lima, was in Cebu to deliver the message of the incarcerated senator to the Cebuanos.
De Lima has been in prison for allegations of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, but she has been considered a “political prisoner” as she was a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and his alleged Davao Death Squad.
“Senator Leila De Lima’s unjust and politically motivated detention for five years on February 24, 2022 confines it amidst a backdrop of a looming rise of the Marcosian legacy of terror and political violence.”
“Senator De Lima is a political prisoner and victim of injustice. During the Marcos years, thousands of Filipinos were unjustly detained without due process, tortured, and killed because of their political beliefs and stand for the truth. We should never let that happen again,” said Villarin.
Villarin reiterated the support of De Lima to the presidency of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo as she believes that under Robredo’s leadership, people are awake and fighting.
“While one of her three cases of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade has been dismissed due to lack of evidence, she continues to be denied bail. The courts continue to grind slow especially when Covid struck. Every day she is in jail is a nail stuck in her cross of injustice. Senator De Lima expresses her full trust and confidence to all Filipinos who will ultimately stand for truth, justice, and freedom,” he added.
Improvement of justice system
Villarin said that should De Lima be reelected as senator, she will continue pushing for improvements in the justice system especially for the poor.
The senator wants to strengthen the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), which provides legal aid to those who can’t afford to hire their own lawyers.
“Kailangan maayos ang justice system. As a former Department of Justice Secretary, she knows ano ang mga problema sa atong justice system,” said Villarin.
De Lima also wants to reform the police on the lawful enforcement to lessen the incidents of abusive policemen.
Inquiry on reclamations
In previous statements, Senator De Lima has already called for a Senate Inquiry on the various reclamation projects in Central Visayas that may be causing major environmental and societal impacts to the localities.
She included the controversial proposed reclamation in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and the equally controversial projects in Consolacion town and Mandaue City in Cebu.
Furthermore, it has reached the senator that fisherfolks in Barangay Tangke, Talisay have been protesting over the reclamation project in the area.
Villarin said that De Lima will continue her fight against these projects which also tackle injustice to the ordinary residents.
“Kining so-called reclamation projects, ang makabenefit ani dili man ang gagmayng katawhan kundi ang mga dagkong negosyo. So again, isip committee on human rights chair dati, para kang Senator De Lima kinahanglan ang development dili para sa dagkong negosyo, para sa katawhan,” he said.
He assured that should the senator be reelected, she will continue to fight against these reclamation projects that are causing injustices to the local residents. /rcg
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