Bicol University
December 9, 2016
Maraming salamat po sa mainit ninyong pagtanggap. Isang karangalan po ang maimbitahan ninyo sa pagtitipong ito. Sa inyong tiwala at suporta, lalo ko pong nararamdamang hindi ako nag-iisa.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank and congratulate all the organizers of this event—to the Bicol University Student Government, and to our dear students and participants of this forum, for providing a venue where our future leaders can share their knowledge, and learn from others towards preparing themselves for the greater responsibilities that lie ahead.
It is clear: To ensure that the youth inherit a bright future, there is a need to guide and equip them with the necessary and proper knowledge, abilities, values and principles. In this way, they will be empowered to choose the right path, and excel on their chosen profession.
Pero paano po kung ang mga naturingang pinuno ngayon ay nangunguna pa sa pagyurak sa karapatang pantao, pagsupil sa demokrasya, at pagkakalat ng kasinungalingan sa ating lipunan?
Kung ang nakikita po nila ngayon ay pinunong walang pagpapahalaga sa ipinaglaban ng ating mga bayani, at sa mga aral ng ating kasaysayan, anong klaseng kinabukasan ang maipapamana sa inyong mga kabataan?
I am glad that this student leaders’ summit has chosen #SpeakChange: Why Democracy Matters” as this year’s theme, as this is very fitting to issues confronting our country nowadays. As future leaders, you should be very discerning and vigilant of what is happening in the country.
Sabi nga nila, kaming mas nakatatanda sa inyo ay mas maikli na ang panahong itatagal sa mundo. Kung maganda ang hinaharap ninyo, isa ako sa unang matutuwa at magpapasalamat. Pero paano kung ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ng inyong mga magulang at ng mabubuting Pilipino para sa bansa ay mabalewala?
Saan ba ninyo nakikitang hahantong ang nangyayari ngayong karahasan, at ang kaliwa’t kanang patayan araw-araw?
Our democracy is being imperilled by leaders who promote violence—disregarding the basic right to life and creating a climate of impunity in our country. Many have been silenced and are afraid to speak up because it seems that the entire government resources are used to impose on us a culture of fear and intimidation.
Just think: Since the start of the current administration, the Philippine National Police has reportedly accounted for more than 5,800 people who have been killed.
As of Dec. 3, there were 2,028 suspected drug offenders who were killed in police operations; while 3,841 were victims of extrajudicial or vigilante-style killings as of Nov. 30.
Katumbas ito ng halos 40 patay kada araw.
Halos pareho yan sa bilang ng estudyante sa isang klase.
What is even alarming is that of the reported 51 police operations which were investigated by Reuters and Commission on Human Rights, almost every suspected drug offender was killed. This is equivalent to 97% kill rate!
Sa isandaan at tatlong (103) biktima ng nasabing operasyon ng pulis, isandaan po diyan ang napatay, at tatlo lang po ang nakaligtas. Yun pong dalawang survivors, nagkunwaring patay para lang mabuhay.
At ano bang gusto nilang paniwalaan natin? Lahat daw ng mga namatay, “nanlaban.”
Karamihan po sa kanila, mahihirap— mga nakatsinelas, walang pambayad sa abogado, walang boses sa lipunan.
Hindi lang ito basta numero. Sa bawat bangkay na nakahandusay, may isang ama, ina, kapatid, asawa, anak na hindi na makauuwi sa pamilya.
Ilan kaya sa mga biktima ang kagaya ng apat na taon, limang taon, at pitong taong gulang na batang napatay, na wala namang kasalanan, at nadamay lang ng karahasan?
As a lawyer, former Chair of the Commission on Human Rights and Justice Secretary, and now as Senator, most importantly, as a Filipino, can you blame someone like me to wonder and ask the truth about the rising cases of extrajudicial killings and summary executions in the country?
I am just doing my duty and I just want Filipinos to know the truth. What did I get in return?
Nabalitaan na ninyo siguro kung paanong ginagamit ni Pangulong Duterte ang makinarya ng gobyerno para lang siraan ako, at gumanti sa akin, dahil sa ginawa kong imbestigasyon sa Davao Death Squad noong Mayor pa siya.
Everything has been turned around. They have fabricated lies against my personality. Truth has become the first casualty on this so-called war on drugs.
I know they are doing this to beat me down, to silence me and discourage me from investigating the alarming state of events in our country.
Ipakukulong po daw ako. If it is the price of standing up for the truth, so be it, I am honored to be jailed.
It seems that they want an example of what would happen to those who would dare to oppose their policies.
Ngonian ngani, ang satuyang Bise Presidente na si Leni Robredo ang nagiging target sa pang-iipit niya. Garo baga may kaangotan siya sa mga Bicolana—sa mga Bicolanang oragon, ang dai niya aram dai kami basta lang mahabo sa laban, dai kami mabutabutahan sa mga kahambogan asin sala niyang pagpapadalagan kan satuyang gobyerno.
Palibhasa, nasanay ang Pangulong Duterte sa paghahari-harian niya sa Davao, kung saan kung anong sinabi niya ay siyang nasusunod.
Presidente Duterte, pondohi na tabi ang pag-gadan! Sunudon ta ang nasa batas! Respetohon mo asin protektaran ang karapatan pang tawo!
The collective action should be increased awareness of the issues troubling our country. Because of the focus on the so-called “war on illegal drugs”—and may I add, the obsession on De Lima—the President seems to forget the real and pressing issues in our country today.
There are many of them, and what I can see is a real threat to our democracy. You just have to really observe what’s happening and listen to the various pronouncements of the President, and go out and talk to ordinary people.
To our youth, then and now, you have always had major roles in pursuing what is right and just in our country. You certainly have a voice in society—even multiple voices, through social media.
Sana, sa halip na abusuhin ang social media sa pagpapakalat ng fake news, tumulong sana tayo sa paghinto nito, at ipalaganap ang katotohanan.
Several students have already taken the initiative to speak against extrajudicial killings through the cardboard justice campaign and similar endeavors.
Example of this is a student; more or less of the same age like you, from St. Scholastica’s College. I commend her for her bravery to stand up for what she believes is right and just.
As early as July 19, she posted a photo of her on Facebook, wearing a cardboard with this message: “Lahat tayo posibleng drug pusher.”
Her message is clear: “Extrajudicial killing is never the right way to go.”
Even at a young age, she reminds us of the real problem our nation is facing. She reminds us that we are never too young or too old to voice out our opinion and to fight for what is right.
I laud her for this.
Kayo, ano ang ambag ninyo sa pangangalaga sa demokrasya? Ano ang ambag ninyo sa pag-abot ng tunay na pagbabago?
Ang ganitong pagsisikap, gaano man kaliit, ay malaki ang naiaambag para imulat ang ating kapwa. Sa panahon ng kadiliman, ang isang maliit na liwanag, kung madadagdagan at magsasama-sama, ay magiging dambuhalang liwanag na gagabay sa marami pa nating kababayan. Sa huli, lalabas ang katotohanan at mananaig ang katarungan.
Bako lang ini laban ni Leila de Lima. Laban ini kan nagdadakol na biktima nin karahasan, kang mga dai natatawan nin katarungan, kan mga babayi asin demokrasya.
On my honor, I will continue fighting the good fight for our people; not just of your generation, but also of the next generations to come. On my honor, I will stand up for the truth, and speak out against human rights abuses. On my honor, I will fight for democracy.
Let us work together to reaffirm our commitment in promoting our democratic ideals. Let us always stand firm in our principles and live with compassion towards building a just and humane society.
Maraming, maraming salamat.