Dispatch from Crame No. 1032: On Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Cats as a source of joy and delight
What a delightful sight? In an almost perfect horizontal line formation, my cats (adopted stray cats) welcomed my return here at the detention quarters last Friday, Feb. 12, from my 24-hour medical furlough. All of them with a weary yet accusing stare, as if saying “where the hell have you been?” They obviously missed me. […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1031: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Expression of Thanks, re: her Medical Furlough
I thank the Almighty God for my continued good health and high spirit. From the known results of the executive check-up (CT Scan, various Ultrasound, Pap Smear, X-Ray, ECG, 2D Echo, Mammogram, Colonoscopy, etc.) during my 24-hour medical furlough, I suffer from no serious or alarming health condition. I just have to watch my diet […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1030: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the killing of peasant activist Rommy Loyola Torres
I join the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in condemning the brutal killing of peasant activist Rommy Loyola Torres. When a culture of impunity can arbitrarily detain a sitting senator, it can also murder a farmer, and leave him in a drum, to rot for fighting for his right to a parcel of land. In 2019, […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1029: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Congratulatory message for Hongkong Pro-Democracy Movement Nobel Nominees (adressed to Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, Ivan Lim)
Dear 黃之鋒 Joshua Wong, 周庭 Agnes Chow, & Ivan Lim: I convey my heartfelt congratulations on the nomination of Hongkong’s pro-democracy movement for the Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination is a fitting recognition of the immeasurable courage of a people united in defense of civil rights and liberties. In the continuing struggle for a just […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1028: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Congratulatory Message for Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists and Maria Ressa on their nominations for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize
Allow me to congratulate Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists and Maria Ressa on their nominations for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The world now is reeling under the insidious phenomenon of fake news and deliberate misinformation online. Ethical, courageous and truth-telling journalists have also become the target of harassment, persecution and death threats, […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1027: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the killing of ICTSI Union President Leonardo Escala
I strongly condemn the killing of International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) union president Leonardo “Ka Esca” Escala in Tondo, Manila last Feb. 7. His 4-year old niece who was with him at the time, was also shot and rushed to the hospital. Brutal crimes such as this are what we intend to prevent when […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1026: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s statement on the ‘Pork Holiday’ in Metro Manila
The “pork holiday” being observed by the meat retailers in response to the price ceiling being imposed is a result of long-term neglect by this administration. Habang busy ang administrasyon magred-tag ng mga aktibista at mga pamantasan, talamak ang smuggling ng bigas, gulay, karne at iba pang commodities. Dahil dito, nagkandalugi-lugi ang ating mga local […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1025: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Call to Prioritize the Needs of the Poor over Cha-Cha
Hirap na hirap na ang taumbayan. Samantala, etong administrasyong Duterte sa Cha-Cha pa rin nahuhumaling. Sa hirap ng buhay at sa kabila ng lahat ng pangakong malasakit ng gobyerno – mas inuuna pa ang pag-amyenda sa Saligang Batas kahit wala naman sa Konstitusyon ang talagang problema. Huwag nang sayangin ang oras at pera ng bayan […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1,024: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the Government’s inaction on the rising prices of commodities
I hear rabbit farming is now finding a new market because of the continued rise in the price of basic commodities. While I laud the resilience of the Filipino spirit, I cannot help but take note of the slow action, if not indifference, of this administration. Once again leaving the Filipinos to fend for themselves. […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 1,023: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on China’s new Coast Guard Law
Habang abala ang Malacañang magbenta ng Sinovac sa mga Filipino, lalong pinapatibay ng China ang kanilang presensyang militar sa West Philippine Sea. Just recently, they enacted their new Coast Guard Law. This authorized their Coast Guard to use “all necessary means,” including use of weapons against foreign vessels. This law also allows Coast Guard personnel […]