Dispatch from Crame No. 772: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s reaction on the Senate Resolution calling on DOH Sec. Duque to resign

I agree with my Senate colleagues. “Knowing fully well the danger posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the beginning of the year,” this administration’s Health Secretary has “failed to put in place the necessary precautionary measures to lessen, if not at all prevent, the impact of this health crisis.” However, primary responsibility for the failure […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 771: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the alleged waiver releasing DOH from responsibility should volunteers contract COVID-19

When the DOH callously asked health workers to volunteer their services and risk their lives in exchange for ₱500 a day, the people resoundingly reacted, saying heroes deserve better than that. When Malacañang said that health workers who die in service can be interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, people questioned the government’s false […]
COMMENTS ON THE 3rd WEEKLY REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT DATED 13 APRIL 2020
I humbly submit my comments on the President’s 3rd weekly report dated 13 April 2020, in compliance with Section 5 of Republic Act No. 11469: Worthy of commendation are the following significant developments: The local government units (LGUs) are now given the prerogative of submitting additional lists of proposed beneficiaries under the Social Amelioration Program […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 770: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Quick Reaction to President Duterte’s Late Night Address on 13 April 2020

The midnight meetings of Mr. Duterte and his Cabinet COVID-19 Team give us a glimpse of his leadership. The whole meeting is light on Mr. Duterte’s leadership and heavy on his ego. The meeting goes as follows: 1) He mentions and reacts on issues; 2) A Secretary sings his praises then gives his report; 3) […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 769: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the Intra-government support for the call to release qualified PDLs

I welcome the calls of both the House Committee on Justice and the DSWD regarding the immediate release of qualified PDLs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. From what I have heard, the matter is now under study by the DOJ. It has been 30 days since a lockdown was ordered at the National Capital Region, as […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 768: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Earnest Message to the Medical Community

Doctors, nurses, medical technologists, health workers, our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons and friends in the medical profession; I implore you: You now hold the power over life and death. In this battle against the virus, you are the frontliners. You are the thin white line that stands between us and catastrophe. Use that […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 767: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s short reaction on the 2nd Weekly Report per Bayanihan Act

Mas marami ang plano kaysa aksyong konkreto. Ito ang mapapansin sa 2nd weekly report ni G. Duterte. Wala ring accounting ng pera at resources – kung saan kinuha, gaano, at paano nagamit. Kaya bulag pa tayo kung sapat, tama, at angkop ang paggugol ng kabang-bayan. This is the main point of Section 5 of RA […]
Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Dispatch from Crame No. 766 Step Aside Duterte!: A Reaction to Duterte’s April 6 Public Address

Mr. Duterte is late to the game. We are now dealing with a few months’ worth of administration-imposed handicap. The address last night was made by someone who is just recently finding out what COVID-19 is, how it spreads, and how it affects our economy. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwang pananalasa ng COVID-19, mukhang ngayon pa […]
COMMENTS ON THE 2ND WEEKLY REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT DATED 6 APRIL 2020
I humbly submit my comments on the President’s 2nd weekly report dated 6 April 2020, in compliance with Section 5 of Republic Act No. 11469: If the arrangement of topics in the Report should mirror theprioritization of the administration, then it erroneously givesprecedence to “Providing Emergency Assistance to all AffectedSectors” over “Secure[sic] Facilities and Resources […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 765: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on calling out the failure of leadership in this time of crisis

Worst time having the worst President. Rich in hubris and bravado. Bankrupt in empathy and good governance skills. Unhinged, as manifested once again in his April 3 “Talk to the Nation on COVID-19”, so-called. (Sumakit ang ulo ko after reading the transcript.) There’s proper time for reckoning and accountability. It’s right now! No more excuses […]
