Press Release
June 27, 2017

A Reflection: My heart bleeds for my former beloved institution
By Senator Leila M. de Lima

It is said that there are two types of families. The family you are born to, and the family you choose to belong to. In my nearly one decade of public service, every institution I have become a part of has become my family in a very real sense.

Both the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are my families of my own choosing because though I did not aspire to be appointed to those posts, I nonetheless chose to become part of those institutions and be a "mother" of sorts to every member and unit thereof. I could have remained isolated from them and their concerns, but I chose to see them as my own - after all, my people are my greatest resource, they can make or break an institution.

Magkaramay kami sa pagtaguyod ng mga adhikain namin. Sabay kaming nag-oovertime, nagpupuyat, tinitiis ang hirap ng trabaho, lumulusong sa bagyo at baha, at humaharap sa lahat ng uri ng pagsubok-dulot man ng kalikasan o ng kapwa tao, tulad ng mga kritisismo at mga kontrobersya.

Naaalala ko noon, napakalaking pighati ang nadama namin ng buong DOJ nang manalanta ang Bagyong Yolanda - hindi man kami apektado masyado sa ka-Maynilaan, nandoon ang kapatiran at malasakit sa isa't isa dahil may mga kasamahan kaming nawawalan ng kamag-anak o nawalan ng buong kabuhayan. Iyon ang isa sa mga pagkakataon na tumatak sa isip ko na ang DOJ ay isang pamilya - lalo na ng may mga volunteers na sumama sa akin upang manaliksik ukol sa kalagayan sa Leyte, at mamahagi ng paunang relief goods na galing din sa mga donasyon ng mga katrabaho nila.

Like any relationship, there have been difficulties. Isa sa mga pinakamahirap para sa akin ay ang mga pagkakataon na nalalaman ko na may mga miyembro na tumalikod sa aming paninindigan na magserbisyo nang may integridad. We had to say goodbye to some officials, and we had to file charges against others who were caught red-handed committing corrupt acts using their position in the DOJ. Mahirap, but it had to be done. It earned me a lot of enemies, but that was not then, nor is it now, a reason for me to act any differently.

Kaya ganoon na lamang ang lungkot na nadarama ko para sa mga dati kong kasamahan sa DOJ, na nalalagay sa alanganin dahil mismo sa mga namumuno sa kanila. It used to be that a DOJ employee can be proud of the institution they belong to because, even though there are a few bad eggs, everyone within and outside the institution knows that the very leadership, a great majority of employees and officials, and, therefore, the institution itself, remains true to its motto: Justitiae, Pax, Opus - Justice, Peace, Work.

Ngayon, para silang mga anak na napasama sa masasamang impluwensya, at nakaladkad sa hindi mabuting katayuan at gawain. The very worst case of being inundated with people who are out to pad their own interests, even at the expense of the reputation and dignity of the institution and its people.

I hope that my former colleagues and co-workers, whom I will continue to pray and look out for, can endure these dark times and remain above the dirty fray. Remember, the people at the top cannot define you and your institution if the vast majority do not follow the bad examples being set. You are not your SOJ. You can still reclaim your dignity and reputation for your excellence and integrity. You just have to do it yourself and not be brought down to other people's level.

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