“Mananahimik na lang ba tayo?”
On the “Usapang Droga” of UP ALYANSA University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 22 February 2018 Isang mapagpalayang araw sa inyong lahat. Maraming salamat sa pagkakataong maging bahagi ng pagtitipong ito, sa pangunguna ng UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA). Gustuhin ko mang personal na makapunta dito, […]
On the filing of Human Rights Defenders’ Bill
Senate of the Philippines 21 February 2018 Warm greetings of solidarity, fellow advocates! Today we are making a decisive stand for human rights. Sa simula pa lamang po ng administrasyong Duterte, mahigit isang taon at kalahati na ngayon, ay nasaksihan na natin kung paano ininsulto at hinamak ang konsepto ng karapatang pantao. Nakapanliliit at nakagagalit […]
“Assuring Affordable, Quality and Accessible Public Services for All”
On the Roundtable Dialogue with Parliamentarians: UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman 15 February 2018 Good afternoon to everyone. I am grateful for this opportunity to share the perspectives and initiatives of my office relevant to our topic today – “Affordable, Quality and Accessible Public Services for All.” […]
On the 3rd Advocacy Forum of the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines
Malate Catholic School, Manila 15 February 2018 My warmest greetings to the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (CEAP) NCR as you hold your 3rd Advocacy Forum. More than four decades have passed since our country was placed under the rule of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Under his authoritarian regime, thousands of Filipinos were killed, […]
On the launching of “Buwan ni Leila”
Senate of the Philippines 14 February 2018 Sa kapwa ko kababaihan at mga kababayang nakikipaglaban para sa katarungan, katotohanan at demokrasya, isang mapagpalayang araw po sa inyong lahat. Labis akong nagpapasalamat sa inyo na nagsama-sama ngayon para sa paglulunsad ng “Buwan ni Leila” upang markahan ang nakalipas na isang taon mula nang arestuhin ako at […]
A Forum on Federalism and Charter Change
Polytechnic University of the Philippines 12 February 2018 My warmest greetings from my prison cell here at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, where I am presently detained for almost a year as a prisoner of conscience of the Duterte regime. This 24th of February will mark my 1st year of […]
Sa ika-72 Anibersaryo ng Partido Liberal
Malingap, Quezon City 19 Enero 2018 Malugod kong binabati ang lahat ng mga pinuno at kapwa miyembro ng Partido Liberal ng Pilipinas sa pagdiriwang ng ika-72 anibersaryo. Sa mahigit pitong dekada, pinanday ng mabibigat na hamon at pagsubok sa ating bayan ang Partido Liberal. Sa panahon man ng kadiliman at mapaniil na pamahalaan, nariyan ang […]
Sa “Black Friday Protest” ng National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
Boy Scout Circle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City 19 Enero 2018 Maraming salamat sa lahat ng narito ngayon, at sa lahat ng mga kababayan nating nakikiisa sa ating ipinaglalaban–ang pagsusulong ng malayang pamamahayag at pagtatanggol ng ating mga karapatan mula sa abusado at diktador na gobyerno. Wala na talagang tatalo sa kapal ng mukha ni Duterte […]
On Foreign Policy’s Leading Global Thinkers Awarding Ceremony
Washington D.C., USA 12 December 2017 Good evening. I’m Leila de Lima, senator of the Republic of the Philippines. I’m also a lawyer by training and profession. I used to head the Commission on Human Rights during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and subsequently, I was appointed Justice Secretary of President Benigno S. Aquino […]
“Misogynistic Politics and the Erosion of Democracy”
On the 1st Southeast Asian Women’s Summit Miriam College, Quezon City 8 November 2017 Excellencies, distinguished participants from the civil society organizations, fellow human rights defenders, the organizers of the first Southeast Asian Women’s Summit, my sincere congratulations and gratitude for making this event possible. Of course, to Miriam College, particularly the Women and Gender […]