"Here is Senator De Lima in her own words."
"Here is Senator De Lima in her own words."
More than two years as a detainee at the Camp Crame Custodial Center for what she and others believe to be trumped-up charges against her, Senator Leila De Lima, many might expect, would be dejected and overwhelmed by her dismal condition. But the good senator is proving to be made of much tougher stuff than most. Despite her condition, she remains defiant but buoyant. She continuous to conscientiously perform her constitutionally mandated duty as elected senator of the Republic. Compared to many more legislators who have been detained in the past for various charges, De Lima is a woman on a mission. Not only is she the most vociferous and implacable critic of the present administration particularly on issues concerning the country such as extrajudicial killings, West Philippine Sea and a host of other issues. She is diligent in the discharge of her duty as a senator notwithstanding the restrictions on her liberty.
As chairperson of the Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, De Lima has authorized her Vice-Chairpersons Senator Sonny Trillanes and Senator Sonny Angara to conduct three (3) hearings and five (5) Technical Working Group Meetings. These hearings produced a total of ten (10) Committee Reports. Of the ten Committee Reports, four (4) were approved on third reading both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. These are Committee Report No. 552 (National Commission of Senior Citizens Act); Committee Report No. 531 (Magna Carta of the Poor); Committee Report No. 522 (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program [4PS] Act); and Committee Report No. 566 (Community-Based Monitoring System Act). Four (4) are pending on 2nd reading while two (2) are still for sponsorship. De Lima assumed the chairmanship in June 2018.
Among her many accomplishments, she prides herself most on her committee’s progress on the bills concerning the National Commission of Senior Citizens Act; Magna Carta of the Poor; 4PS; and the Community-Based Monitoring System Act—all designed to uplift the quality of living of every Filipino specially those living below the poverty line.
We can expect more legislative accomplishments coming from the office of Senator de Lima in the days or months ahead. Yes, she is in prison—but she is unbowed.
This truth about Senator De Lima is best seen in the speech she delivered before the final blessing of the Holy Mass held at the PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City last Feb. 24, 2019 in commemoration of the 2nd year of her illegal arrest and unjust detention. Below are excerpts from that speech:
‘Two (2) years ago, Feb. 24, before 8:00 in the morning, or right before I stepped out of my Senate office and went down to the parking area to face the PNP arresting team, I convened my staff to bid farewell.
I could see that most of them were trying to hold back their tears. It was a high-stress, high-emotion moment.
I told them—I’m not sure how long this ordeal will last. It could take a few days, a few weeks, a few months or a few years.
A few days or few weeks because we were banking on an immediate injunctive relief, a TRO from the Supreme Court. It didn’t come to pass. A few months because we were hoping against hope that the Supreme Court would grant our Petition seeking for the nullification of my arrest. Again, it didn’t happen. The majority of the SC chose to turn a blind eye to this gross injustice.
And I will tell you now what I didn’t dare openly wish in front of my staff: “Sana few years lang.” I did not dare say it loud because I didn’t want to give them any sign that I was afraid of a long, drawn-out detention. I didn’t want to leave them with fear in their hearts, more than the fear that was already there. I wanted to be strong for them. I was in warrior mode.
And now it’s 2 full years. How many more years shall I endure? I want to be confident. No choice but to be confident. But I’m not sure if I can be confident. The state of our justice system hardly inspires confidence.
Xxx
I want to be optimistic, but I am not blind. I can see what is happening in the country at large, as clearly as I can see what is happening in my own cases.
Even the few minor “victories” we achieved, like the inhibition of judges, is proof of what an uphill battle we are facing.
Nobody wanted to touch these trumped-up drug cases. A number of judges have inhibited themselves. I don’t blame them. They know that they will be damned if they do justice, and damned if they don’t. They know what is at stake: I have to be convicted for this Administration to retain its thin semblance of legitimacy. To do justice to me is to offend the powers that be. To do right is to incur the Duterte wrath.
So it all boils down to how powerful the enemies I have made are. And Duterte is but one of them…Yes, he is the most blatantly and vocally vicious, but I am wise enough to know that he is not alone. You know what they say, no good deed goes unpunished?
Kaya nga today’s Gospel strikes hard at me. Parang nananadya si Lord.
Today’s Gospel is about loving my enemies. On a theoretical and philosophical level, such a teaching is easy to accept and understand. What good is it to only love those who are good to us?
But a very difficult one to put in practice. So I ask myself, can I love my enemies?
I don’t know. For sure, I am not there yet. That is something I have to meditate further about. But I don’t know if I will ever get there.
So I ask myself something easier, can I forgive my enemies, even when they have not asked for forgiveness?
In truth, though, I have long ago forgiven those who were merely used as pawns, such as the convicts themselves and others who allowed themselves to be used against me. They aren’t the real enemies.
In the end, I think, I can find it in my heart to forgive, but not forget.
Do not ask me to forget. Because to forget is to ask me to surrender my humanity. Someday, I can forgive the real enemies. But I cannot forget.
Xxx
Remember, remember the 24th of February. For this is not MY day. It is the day when our commitment to Truth, Justice, Rule of Law, and Democracy were put to test, serious test.
We are still fighting. We have not lost.