De Lima vows to advance human rights advocacies, ‘no vindictiveness’ if she wins Eleksyon 2022

Detained Senator Leila de Lima vowed to push for her advocacies on social justice and human rights, noting that she will not seek revenge if she wins in Eleksyon 2022.

De Lima, who has been in detention since 2017, said that her fight goes hand in hand with the Filipino people’s continued struggle for justice.

“Naniniwala si Senator De Lima sa hustisya para sa kanya. Ang hope niya is to be vindicated, and for justice to be done in her case. Pero ang prayoridad niya ay ang taumbayan. She will not stop fighting for other people,” De Lima’s deputy chief-of-staff and lawyer Catherine Sy said during the “PINKwentuhan Middle East” online event on Saturday.

(Senator De Lima believes in justice for her case. Her hope is to be vindicated, and for justice to be done in her case. But her priority is the people. She will not stop fighting for other people.)

“Her fight is about the people who were victimized by violence, killings, violation of rule of law at mga taong napabayaan (and those who were neglected) during pandemic,” she added.

On concerns about the detained senator’s health, Sy assured that De Lima is physically fit and not suffering from any illnesses.

Meanwhile, De Lima in a recorded video message expressed her support for the tandem of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo and vice presidential aspirant Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

“Ang kailangan natin ay lider na kapag binigyan ng mandato ay hindi mang-aabuso, hindi nanakawan ang taumbayan, magtatrabaho para sa ekonomiya at panlipunang serbisyo, at palalakasin ang grassroots at civil society. Higit sa lahat, pasisiglahin muli ang demokrasya sa bansa,” she said.

(What we need is a leader who when given a mandate will not abuse, will not rob the people, will work for the economy and social services, and strengthen grassroots and civil society. Above all, it will revitalize democracy in the country.)

“Kasama ni VP Leni at Senator Kiko, kaming mga nasa senatorial lineup ay magiging katuwang nila sa hangaring iyan. Titiyakin namin na ang Senado ay magiging bulwagan para sa mga panukalang batas at resolusyon na magpapalakas sa mga sektor sa bansa at poprotekta sa interes ng taumbayan,” De Lima added.

(Together with Robredo and Pangilinan, we in the senatorial lineup will be their partners in that goal. We will ensure that the Senate will be the hall for bills and resolutions that will strengthen sectors in the country and protect the interests of the people.

De Lima, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, is seeking a second six-year term at the Senate.

The reelectionis senator is still facing two charges of conspiracy to commit drug trading after a Muntinlupa court junked one of the three cases in February last year.—AOL,GMA News