Dispatch from Crame No. 425: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement of Support to Senate Bill 2082
Elections play a critical role in democracies. It is the most basic form of participatory governance and a key element in our people’s civil and political rights. But how do we protect the sanctity of the ballot when those tasked to protect our votes are demoralized because they are underpaid compared to their counterparts in […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 424: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the Third Telco Player & Cronyism
A lot of things did not seem right when Mislatel was awarded the bid to become the Philippines’ third telco player. Mislatel Consortium is composed of Dennis Uy’s corporations and the Chinese government-owned China Telecom. Dennis Uy is closely associated with President Duterte as a major campaign donor. Duterte, on the other hand, already assured […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 423: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on Duterte’s Attack vs Bishop David
Duterte’s attack on Bishop Pablo “Ambo” David is nothing but slanderous. It is vintage Duterte. He destroys the reputation of those who oppose him and those who fight for the victims of his rule. Bishop Ambo is his latest victim. Aside from tending to the relatives of EJK victims in his diocese, Bishop Ambo drew […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 422: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the Traitors’s Sell-out of Our Sovereignty
The break in protocol during the Malacañang honor guard ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping is very symbolic of the purpose of his State visit. The purpose was to cement the Philippines’ inclusion into China’s sphere of influence, if not domination. The Chinese President, more than just another visiting head of state, came and was […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 421: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on Duterte’s Squandering of our Legal Victory, regarding the West Philippine Sea
One can blame it on too much napping, but Duterte’s declaration with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea (SCS), barely a week after saying China is already in possession of the disputed waters, reflects the incoherence in government policy on the SCS and West Philippine […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 420: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the gross inequality in our justice system
Imelda Marcos’s conviction and bail grant in a matter of a few days just shows one of the grossest inequality in our justice system. Found guilty of stealing millions of dollars of public funds, Mrs. Marcos is asked to pay a measly P150,000.00 for bail in order to continue enjoying her freedom until the conviction […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 419: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on 4Ps beneficiary as board topnotcher
I read about the very inspiring story of Joseph Vincent Satura, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary from Cebu City who graduated cum laude and topped this year’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering board exam. Joseph was a scholar in the University of Cebu. He acknowledged that part of his success came from 4Ps […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 418: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Sec. Guevarra’s claim re: convicts as witnesses
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says there are no convict State Witnesses being used against me because no convict has been discharged as such under Sec. 17, Rule 119 of the Rules of Court. He seems to be ignorant that this is not the only legal provision that turns a person into a State Witness. State […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 417: Sen. Leila M. de Lima’s Statement on the Planned Militarization of the BOC
The decision of President Duterte for the AFP to take over the Bureau of Customs sets a dangerous precedent. It normalizes the unconstitutional act of granting the military civilian functions and power over civilian offices. It is another one of Duterte’s populist moves designed to appeal to the prevailing frustration of the people with his […]
Dispatch from Crame No. 416: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on JP’s family and other Tokhang and EJK Orphans
Fourteen-year-old JP was one of the thousands of children of extrajudicial killing victims in the country. He died of leukemia a few days ago. Nais ko pong ipaabot ang aking pakikiramay sa pamilya ni JP. Nakaabot po sa akin kung gaano katindi ang pinagdadaanan nilang kahirapan, na lalong pinabigat ng pagpaslang sa ama ni JP […]