Sereno praises De Lima: Your place in history is already assured

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Sunday lauds detained Senator Leila De Lima, noting that the "unjust detention" of the opposition lawmaker has invaluably contributed to the global promotion of justice and human rights.

“It is clear to everyone what we are fighting for.  So your place in history isn’t something that you should be concerned about. It is actually already assured,” Sereno said in a news release.

“With all my best wishes to give you more energy and even greater inspiration for the fight that you continue to wage for freedom and democracy, not only in this country, but because of your sterling example, to the entire world,” Sereno added.

Last September 12, the former top judge visited the office of De Lima at the Senate to deliver two books and a letter for the senator.

Sereno, who is also a critic of the Duterte administration, claimed that Filipinos have already "grown tired" of President Rodrigo Duterte's "oft-repeated lies and rants against his critics."

“Palagay ko sawa na ang mga tao sa ginagawa niya. Nakakapagod rin namang makita ang garapalan niyang panggigipit sa mga kritiko.

“Kaya ba ng mga Pilipino na masaksihan ang ganyang estilo nang paulit-ulit? Napakahabang panahon na ang ginugol ni Duterte at napakaraming resources na ang binubuhos niya para makapanggipit ng mga kritiko niya habang ginagamit niya ang mga institutions para lubusang makapanggipit. Sawa na ang mga tao,” Sereno said.

De Lima is being detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center for drug-related charges, while Sereno was ousted from her post after the Supreme Court favored a quo warranto petition, questioning the validity of her appointment as top magistrate. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News