Press Release
November 20, 2019

Dispatch from Crame No. 649:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on her 1000th Day of Unjust Detention

11/20/19

As I've said before, I have never imagined myself being detained and persecuted. Not even in a few hours or a single day.

But here I am right now, a lawyer, a public servant who serves my country to the fullest of my capability--still in a solitary, isolated quarters, for one thousand days now.

Walang salitang sasapat para mailarawan ang nararamdaman ko ngayon; bawat araw na lumilipas ay araw ng kawalang hustisya laban sa inosenteng tulad ko, na maging mukha at larawan ng lantarang pagyurak sa ating mga karapatan, ng paglapastangan sa sistemang pangkatarungan at patuloy na pagsira sa aking pangalan, buhay at dangal bilang babae.

Bawat araw ng patuloy kong pagkakulong, ay isang mabigat na laban at pagsubok na dapat kong lampasan.

Each day that passed made me stronger, however. But what I find most difficult to overcome is the fact that for the past 1,000 days, I continue to witness how terrible our country is being ruled, and how the law is being weaponized to suppress dissent, curtail our freedoms and undermine our democracy. We also see rampant corruption and misgovernance.

But I am still thankful to God for the blessings of wisdom, fortitude and perseverance to fight and continue fighting.

Ipinagpapasa-Diyos ko ang lahat, at nagpapasalamat sa patuloy na suporta at malasakit ng aking mga kapamilya, kaibigan, mga indibidwal at organisasyon sa loob at labas ng bansa, na patuloy na nananawagan para sa hustisya at agaran kong paglaya.

Sa inyo pong lahat na kaisa ko, maraming maraming salamat. Patuloy ko pong itinuturing na isang karangalan ang makulong dahil sa aking mga ipinaglalaban. ###

(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 649, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_649)

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