I’m a risk taker. I’ve always been.
I believe in honesty and authenticity. I abhor superficiality, pretensions and hypocrisy. What you see is what you get.
I took a risk when I ran in the national elections despite very meager resources and my vulnerability to retaliation or vendetta from powerful personalities who might have felt “wronged” by my official actions in previous capacities.
I took a risk when I initiated a Senate inquiry on the spate of killings of suspected drug offenders, ignoring the contrary advice of well-meaning friends who deemed such initiative of mine as “suicidal”, given Duterte’s high popularity and his patent intolerance to dissent.
I took a risk when I publicly admitted a previous relationship, knowing that people would not understand it and would thus judge me negatively about such episode in my personal life.
I took a risk when, rather than heeding suggestions to seek political asylum in a foreign country, I chose to face head-on my persecution and consequent illegal arrest, boldly proclaiming to the whole world that I’m honored to be a prisoner under this repressive regime.
No regrets. Being honest with oneself is far better than losing one’s soul.