Dispatch from Crame No. 475: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the death threats vs. bishops and priests
The Catholic Church cannot possibly trust Duterte when he says that bishops and priests should not be harmed, and that those who harm them will have to deal with him. In the first place, he is the one who threatened bishops with murder, when he asked “tambays” to rob their bishops because they are rich, […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 474: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Duterte’s continued subservience to China
Duterte’s pronouncement to allow illegal Chinese workers in the Philippines once again demonstrates the President’s cowardice when it comes to dealing with China. He justifies this with the lame excuse that China might retaliate against Filipinos working in China. But this only means a breakdown in the enforcement of Philippine laws against illegal Chinese workers. […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 473: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the persecution of critics and opponents of the Duterte regime
Malacañang has acquired the habit of denying that it is behind the persecution of critics and opponents of the Duterte regime. It has denied that the fake charges filed against me were in retaliation for my opposition to Duterte’s bloody drug war. It has denied that the unconstitutional ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 472: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s statement on Duterte’s claim of delay in the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program due to lack of skilled workers
Contrary to what was dubbed as the “boldest infrastructure development program in recent Philippine history,” Duterte’s ‘Build Build Build’ program, with its promise to build enormous and flagship infrastructures that will be “remembered”, seems to be on the brink of collapse – its grandiloquent promises to be reduced into rubbles and ashes. Duterte and his […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 471: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the mindless proposal of a sycophant NYC Chair
If National Youth Commission (NYC) Chair Ronald Cardema had his way, our government should only sponsor mindless students and train them to be unquestioning citizens who cater to a tyrant’s every whim. Cardema was quoted formally requesting Pres. Duterte “to issue an Executive Order removing the government scholarships of all anti-government scholars.” I guess, one […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 470: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the attempted rehabilitation of discredited politicians
Jinggoy Estrada’s and Bong Revilla’s pitch during the launching of their senatorial campaigns that they were persecuted (“Pinag-initan lang kami”) by the Aquino administration is a stark reminder of how discredited politicians attempt to rehabilitate their public image by playing the victim card. To set the record straight, no one else but the people were […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 469: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the Manila Bay Reclamation and Betrayal of Public Trust
For the nth time, Duterte tricked the public once again. He went out crusading for Manila Bay ala Boracay-style with his usual vitriolic challenge against polluters and the public received the initiative with enthusiasm, believing it was truly for the environment. But no, it was not just to rehabilitate Manila Bay after all, but a […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 468: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the Arrest of Maria Ressa
Like the DOJ, the National Bureau of Investigation has been reduced to a tool of oppression. This has become apparent with the arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa yesterday. It appears that NBI agents went to the Rappler offices yesterday at around 5:00pm. This betrays their intent to deprive Ressa of her opportunity to post […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 467: Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima’s message to her fellow Bicolanos and Bicolanas: “Tulungan Natin ang Otso Diretso para Matulungan Tayo”
An mga takot, mayong naabot. (Those who are afraid, accomplish nothing.) To me, this expression in Bicol captures the essence of a true Oragon – someone who is unafraid to take control of his/her own destiny, undaunted by the odds, and steadfast on his/her principles and values. I hope the courage of the Oragon will […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 466: Sen. Leila M. de Lima lauds her colleagues’ rejection of the pork-laden 2019 budget
Kudos to my colleagues in the Minority bloc – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Kiko Pangilinan – and, of course, to Sen. Ping Lacson, for their rejection of the pork-laden 2019 budget. Mabuhay kayo! If I were there, and allowed to vote, I certainly would have joined them […]