Dispatch from Crame No. 506: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the PNP’s Manhunt of “Bikoy”
The suppression of the truth about the possible involvement of the Duterte family and associates in the illegal drug trade as revealed by “Bikoy” is now underway. Instead of investigating the veracity of the allegations and documents relative to these deeply troubling exposé, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde instead chose to turn the tables against the […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 505: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on SP Sotto’s remarks about US Congress’ Resolution on her Political Persecution
I’m disappointed that SP Sotto doesn’t seem to get the point. He was quoted to have said in a Twitter post: “Did they do that to former SP Enrile and Sens. Revilla and Estrada?”, referring to the recent US Senate and House of Representatives condemning my continued detention and calling for my immediate release. Well, […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 504: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Justice Sec. Guevarra’s remark that the US Senators were “misinformed” in their call to drop the politically-motivated charges against the Senator and Maria Ressa
Much has been said by the Palace and my own colleagues in the Senate about the filing of a resolution by US Senators calling on the Duterte Administration to stop the legal persecution of dissenters, including myself and Maria Ressa. But none of these is more absurd than Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s statement that the […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 503: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on “The Real Narcolist”
“Time brings all things to light,” says Willie Stark in the 2006 film ‘All the King’s Men.’ And indeed the time of reckoning for the Dutertes has come. In the past couple of weeks, we have seen former anti-narcotics operative Eduardo Acierto and a certain “Bikoy,” who claims to be a former member of a […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 502: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the three (3) most courageous priests
Around this time of the year, two particular occasions for celebration and reflection come to mind for Filipinos. This Tuesday, April 9, is the commemoration of the Day of Valor, o Araw ng Kagitingan, when we are reminded of the greatness of Filipino fighters who stepped up to fight against the rise and spread of […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 501: More on Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s dare for Polong to show his tattoo.
In challenging Paolo Duterte to prove his accusers wrong via the simple expedient of showing his back tattoo, I speak partly from the perspectives of one who has been falsely accused and continues to be persecuted and demonized with lies about her alleged drug links. I don’t want anybody else, not even any of the […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 500: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Paolo Duterte’s tattoo
There’s just one easy thing to do on the part of Paolo Duterte to put closure to this lingering issue about his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. Show his back. Does he have a tattoo or not? If so, what tattoo? Simple! Is that too much to ask? Aren’t tattoos meant to be […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 499: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the Killing of Negros Oriental Farmers
The decades-long struggle for genuine agrarian reform has continued to fail our farmers and their families, who have been struggling for their many basic needs, including daily sustenance and opportunities to improve their lot. This predicament forces our farmers to take it upon themselves the fight for their own rights and legitimate interests, resorting to […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 498: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on social media vitriol vs Duterte
I don’t know if Mr. Duterte realizes that more and more people hate him. Really hate him. Of course, his fanatical supporters remain fanatical, oblivious of his many sins. That’s what fanaticism is all about—a blind devotion, coupled with a perverse notion about the invincibility of a demagogue idol. But the rest of the informed […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 497: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the Oppressiveness of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act
Laws can only be effective if the concerned government agencies mandated to implement them are able to do so capably and responsibly. However, the implementing agencies can only do so much if a law is fundamentally flawed to begin with, as is the case with Republic Act No. 11235, otherwise known as the Motorcycle Crime […]