Dispatch from Crame No. 670: Sen. Leila M. de Lima invites people to join the Mass tomorrow in Ateneo Church of the Gesù
In solidarity, I urge the community of faith believers, human rights defenders and the public to take part in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in a Solidarity Mass at Church of the Gesù, Ateneo de Manila University, tomorrow, December 10 at 5:00 p.m., on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day and in […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 669: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the rewards given to witnesses and complainants in the drug cases against her, the latest being the reported looming reinstatement of Reynaldo Esmeralda as NBI Deputy Director
Convicted felons were granted immunity. Some of them transferred to military camps, presumably with more comfortable quarters than hell hole Bilibid. God knows what other concessions were promised them in exchange for perjured testimonies. Pardon perhaps or other forms of executive clemency for their early release, and non-freezing or non-sequestration of their assets? Duterte operators […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 668: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement in Support of former Ombudsman Morales and former DFA Secretary Del Rosario in their ICC case against Xi Jinping
I support former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario in their decision to pursue their case against Chinese President Xi Jinping in the commission of crimes against humanity on Filipinos and Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea. The decision of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 667: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s statement on the ICC’s report on its preliminary examination activities relative to PH situation
I receive the International Criminal Court’s report on its preliminary examination into Mr Duterte’s war on drugs as timely, significant, and highly notable news. With this report, a status report actually, our collective cause for justice and human rights has made considerable strides and ends the year for all the victims and their families on […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 665: On John Chicano, the former janitor turned sports hero
John Chicano did not only give us our 1st gold medal as a world-class triathlete in the 30th South East Asian Games. He also gave us a story of hope that we can all hold on to, especially in these times when stories of woe and despair abound. Isa na naman itong patunay na ang […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 664: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Message of Thanks to Financial Times for naming her as one of 16 Most Influential Women of 2019
Thank you, Financial Times, for the honor! Truly humbling to be tacked with extraordinary women of our times. It’s really just about fighting for what is right…
Dispatch from Crame No. 663: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on Duterte’s relentless threats to block the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise
The closure of a media outlet over a personal whim and political vendetta has no place in a free, democratic and just society. Clearly, the President’s attacks on Rappler and Inquirer, and recently, his renewed threats of blocking ABS-CBN’s franchise, are part of his regime’s blatant crackdown, broader propaganda and misinformation against media outlets, opposition […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 662: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s statement on the perjury charge against Sr. Elen Belardo, RGS
Sa mata ng batas ni Rodrigo Duterte, isang paglabag ang ipagtanggol ang karapatang pantao kahit ng mga pinakamahihirap nating kabababayan, kung kaya’t kahit ang isang 80 taong gulang na madre ay itinuturing na kriminal ng estado. Sr. Elen Belardo, RGS, has dedicated most of her life serving the rural poor. She is now being charged […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 661: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s statement on the proposed live media coverage of the promulgation in the Ampatuan massacre case
I support the calls of media organizations for the open and live coverage of the scheduled promulgation of the decision in the Ampatuan Massacre case on Dec. 19. This case is the single, most horrific crime – multiple murder – in modern Philippine history, in terms of the number of victims which include media practitioners […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 660: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the Reported Reinstatement of Rafael Ragos
The best example of how Duterte has used privileges and rewards on perjured witnesses to testify against me is none other than NBI official Rafael Ragos. Despite revelations linking him to corruption while he was BuCor-OIC, Ragos was reportedly ordered reinstated recently by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to his old office at the NBI as […]