Leila de Lima

Minority senators demand: #FreeLeilaNow

Minority senators have joined calls for the “immediate release” of opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima, who will mark her first year of illegal arrest and unjust detention on Saturday, February 24.
 
They filed late Wednesday Senate Resolution (SR) No. 645 making an impassioned call for the freedom of De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime.  
 
“As her colleagues at the Senate, we are pained by the reality that a member of this Chamber is locked up in jail on trumped-up charges when she should be here with us, engaging in productive discussions, legislating laws, and serving her constituents and our country,” they said. 
 
The resolution was signed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes IV, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros.
 
They noted that De Lima’s continued unjust detention was instigated by her investigation of the Davao Death Squad as then chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and later investigation of the spate of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country as a senator — which earned the ire of then Davao Mayor and now President Duterte.
 
De Lima’s colleagues nevertheless lauded her spirit, which remains unbroken despite Duterte’s effort to tarnish her reputation and oppress her. 
 
“The road to her incarceration was tormenting — revealing in public her intimate relationships, publicly shaming her by threatening to screen in the House of Representatives her alleged sex videos, and branding her an immoral woman,” they said.
 
“Only a tenacious person with an unshakable resolve like Senator De Lima can withstand all these, unbowed, unbent, and unbroken,” they added.
 
The five senators acknowledged the increasing number of organizations and human rights advocates who have launched petitions seeking her freedom from incarceration.
 
They cited a March 2017 resolution by the European Parliament in Strasbourg calling for “the immediate release of Senator De Lima” and the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union’s call for her freedom in a report prepared by its human rights committee, among others.
 
“In the narrow confines of her detention cell and under restrictive conditions in the PNP Custodial Center, her physical body has deteriorated; only her dogged spirit to carry on is keeping her alive,” they said.
The same senators filed SR No. 505 in September 2017 asking the Senate leadership to allow De Lima to participate in the sessions and deliberations of important legislative measures. The resolution has not been acted upon. 

Statement of Opposition Senators Aquino, Drilon, Hontiveros, Pangilinan, and Trillanes on De Lima’s Award

We warmly congratulate Sen. Leila de Lima for being named by Foreign Policy as one of 2017’s leading Global Thinkers. FP could not have bestowed this award on a more deserving public servant. 
 
Sen. Leila’s dedication to the cause of justice and human rights in the country, especially where it concerns the brutal war on drugs that has taken thousands of lives in the span of a year, has not gone unnoticed. 
 
Her steadfast convictions have captured the interest of people all over the world and have started a global conversation that throws into sharp focus the dangers and abuses happening under this administration’s ruthless anti-drug campaign. 
 
Despite her detention, she remains true to her principles, and is resolute and unwavering in her beliefs. Sen. Leila’s continued battle gives hope and courage to those who feel helpless amid the rampant injustices in our society. 
 
We are proud to have such an indomitable spirit among our ranks, and we will stand by her as she carries on with her campaign against injustice and human rights abuses in our country. 
 
This award serves as a reminder to all of us that you can never put a strong woman down, much less one who sides with truth.

Sen. Bam on SC decision on Sen. De Lima’s petition

While we respect the decision of the Supreme Court, we are saddened and disappointed that the release of Senator Leila De Lima was not granted.

 Still, we remain hopeful that the High Court will allow Sen. Leila to fulfill her duties as a duly elected senator, even under detention.

 The minority will continue to throw our support behind Sen. Leila as she exhausts all legal remedies by appealing the Supreme Court’s decision.

 Umaasa tayo na sa huli, makakamtan din ni Senator De Lima ang patas na pagkakataon at hustisya.

Bam on DOJ’s case vs Sen. Leila de Lima

Without a paper or money trail and with only contradicting testimonies from some of the worst criminals in our country, the administration files charges and seeks to arrest its staunchest critic.

 And while all of this is being done, government spends its resources trying to acquit the mastermind of the Pork Barrel Scam.

Clearly, there is something wrong with this picture. But it is our new reality.

This act of brazen harassment and perversion of our justice system should not be tolerated.

JOINT STATEMENT: Lower House plan to show video is illegal: De Lima’s fellow Liberal Party Senators

We vehemently oppose the plan of the House of Representatives to show the alleged videos as disrespectful, deplorable, and illegal.

Regardless of the authenticity of the alleged videos, viewing it is disrespectful to a sitting senator, to her person, and to the office she holds, and is violative of the law.

The following laws may apply:

– Anti-Voyeurism Law (RA 9995) prohibits the recording or broadcast of videos of a sexual act, among others, with or without the consent of the persons featured in the material. Such recordings are also inadmissible even in legislative hearings.

– Anti Wiretapping Law (RA 4200) prohibits and penalizes the playing of recordings of any private communication without the consent of those involved. Such recordings are also inadmissible as evidence even in legislative hearings.

– Revised Penal Code on Crimes against Honor:

* Slander by Deed which is by performing an act intended to cast dishonor, disrespect, or contempt upon a person, OR

* Incriminatory machinations which may either be:
(i) Incriminating an innocent person in the commission of a crime by planting evidence;
(ii) Intriguing against honor by resorting to any scheme, plot, design, but not by direct spoken words, to destroy the reputation of another.

We appeal to the members of House of Representatives to be more circumspect of our larger roles as legislators: safekeepers of governance traditions and examples to our children.

Sen. Bam on staying in the majority

(Transcript of media interview)

 

Q: What do you think of the situation of Sen. De Lima because nalabas iyong phone number niya, her address, and sabi nga hindi siya makapasok today because she’s looking for a house actually?

 Sen. Bam: Well, it’s very unfortunate na nailabas iyong kanyang telephone number at saka iyong address niya. We’d like to hope that in the halls of Congress and the Senate, mayroon pa ring parliamentary courtesy. Mayroon pa rin pagkiling towards someone’s right to privacy.

Now we understand na ongoing iyong mga hearings sa kongreso. I think a resolution has also been filed already here that we also tackle these cases so the Senators can have a chance to question these witnesses as well and to check the veracity of their stories. We’ll probably take it from there. Doon na namin sila haharapin mismo.

 But again, you’d like to see some type of parliamentary courtesy. Noong tinanggal si Sen. De Lima bilang Chairperson on Justice, biglaan iyon sa amin. As we said in our statement the other day, kasama kami sa majority and yet no dialogue transpired. Walang consultation na nangyari. So, we felt that, at the minimum, some level of consultation or dialogue should have happened. Kaya kung napansin niyo, at the start of the hearing, Sen. Drilon was calling for a caucus. The reason for that was mapag-usapan. And, I truly believe that the concerns of our fellow Senators, kung pumayag sila na magkadiyalogo, ma-re-resolve naman na hindi kailangan tanggalin [si Sen. De Lima] doon sa Committee on Justice.

 And to be very frank, we were talking to Sen. De Lima yesterday, sabi namin “Kung ni-request sa iyo na ipaubaya mo ang pagiging chairperson for these hearings on extrajudicial killings, papayag ka ba?” 

 Sabi naman niya “Kung ni-request iyon sa akin ng colleagues ko, ba’t naman ako hindi papayag?”

 So we really believe that it was unncessary. It was too much. And kung pinayagan kaming mag-usap muna at magdiyalogo, puwede naman ito ma-resolve.

 

Q: What was behind the decision for you to stay in the majority?

 Sen. Bam: Well, you know, in the beginning, the reason for this supermajority is because each of us in our block, mayroon kaming mga repormang gustong maitulak. I’m Chairman of Education, so our Trabaho Centers, the Free Tuition Fee for SUCs, iyong ating programs for out-of-school youth – marami iyan.

 We all agreed yesterday that the reason for us being in the majority is because of our ability to push for these reforms. Kung kaya naming itulak ang mga repormang mahalaga sa bayan, magtatrabaho kami dito sa aming mga kumite. Kung hindi na namin kayang gawin iyon, ibang usapan iyon. If we are not allowed to push for these reforms, that’s a different take altogether. 

 And I think all of the members currently in the majority will stay in the majority because of that. At the end of the day, more than na-slight ka, more than nabastos ka, iyong mga repormang gusto mong itulak – iyon iyong mas mahalaga. And that was our decision. 

 

Q: Hindi ba sabi independent block under majority? 

 Sen. Bam: Well, may majority at may “medyo-rity”. Kami iyong “medyo-rity” diba. 

We’d like to think that in this supermajority, iba-iba rin iyong mga grupo diyan. Iba-iba din iyong mga pananaw sa mga iba’t-ibang issues. There are issues where we will all agree and there are issues where we won’t. And you will see that in our vote, and in our interpellations.  Ganoon lang talaga iyon.

 

Q: More criticisms? You will be more critical?

 Sen Bam: I think we’ve always had an independent stance in the Senate and in fact, I think that’s the role of the Senate in our history. Hindi lang sa current administration. Even during PNoy’s administration, GMA’s administration, even during Tita Cory’s administration, the Senate has always been an independent body. And I think iyon iyong pinakamahalaga, na ma-maintain – iyong independence. If we can maintain that independence, even while being in the majority and still able to push the reforms, ba’t kami aalis sa mayoria?

 Palagay ko, iyong pagiging independent, hindi lang iyan trabaho ng minority, trabaho iyan ng buong Senado.

 

Joint statement on Sen. De Lima’s removal as Committee on Justice chairperson

JOINT STATEMENT

Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Bam Aquino, and Senator Risa Hontiveros

 

We are deeply saddened by the events that transpired yesterday. Elementary courtesy dictates that we as members of the majority bloc of the Senate should have been consulted. The concerns of our colleagues could have been addressed if there was an opportunity for a dialogue.

No consultation or dialogue took place.

We recognize that the removal of Senator Leila De Lima as chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights as a political reality.

 Having said that, our alliance with the majority has always been based on the reforms that we believe will propel our nation to greater economic, political and social heights. We will continue to pursue these agenda.

As long as we believe that these reforms can be achieved, we will remain with the majority.

Coming from the events that transpired yesterday, we must remain vigilant and continue to assert the independence of the Senate.

Bam on President Duterte-Sen. Leila de Lima spat

Matagal ko nang sinabi na sana hindi humantong sa mga personal na bagay-bagay. Hindi siya maganda para sa ating bayan.

 Ako naman, ang mahalaga, I think, we all focus on the work. Balik tayo sa trabaho.

 Ang paglaban sa droga, iyan trabaho iyan. Ang pag-imbestiga sa mga summary killings, trabaho rin iyan.

 Kung may mga issues na ilegal na gawa, e di magkasuhan tayo. Pero kung ganyan na personal iyong mga batuhan, palagay ko hindi siya maganda para sa bayan.

 Stick to the work. Stick to the issues. Stick to the policies.

On Duterte’s matrix vs De Lima

Unang-una, sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya (De Lima), hindi naman siya involved diyan. But if there’s evidence, kailangang imbestigahan.

 Kung talagang may kinalaman sa droga, kasuhan. Kung talagang may summary killings, imbestigahan.

 Pero pagdating sa personal na bagay, labas na tayo diyan. Dapat manatili tayo sa trabaho.

Sen. Bam to Sen. De Lima: Huwag matakot, huwag matinag!

Huwag matakot, huwag matinag!

This was Sen. Bam Aquino’s advice to fellow lawmaker Sen. Leila de Lima amid the deluge of personal attacks being thrown at her by the administration.

“Nakakalungkot na naging personal na ang mga atake kay Sen. Leila de Lima ngunit sana’y huwag siyang magpatinag at walang takot na hanapin ang katotohanan at hustisya sa pagdinig ng Senado sa Lunes,” said Sen. Bam

Despite the accusations, Sen. Bam is confident that de Lima can weather the storm, being a tough and brave government official.

“Kilala natin si Sen. De Lima bilang matapang at matibay na lingkod-bayan kaya tiwala akong malalampasan niya ang mga pagsubok na kaakibat ng pagganap sa tungkulin bilang mambabatas,” Sen. Bam added.

De Lima, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, will investigate the spate of extra-judicial killings in the country on Monday (August 22).

DOJ, Private Businesses Welcome Passage of Bill Penalizing Cartels, Abuse of Dominance

Stakeholders, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), welcomed the long-awaited approval of the Philippine Competition Act, a landmark legislation that will level the playing field for all types of businesses

In a statement, DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima lauded Sen. Bam Aquino and Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua for their energy and dedication to work for the passage of the bill, which gathered dust for almost 25 years in the legislative mill.

Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, was the main author and sponsor of the measure, which is expected be signed into law by President Aquino.

“The Department will continue to support legislation that will level the playing field and inject fairness and transparency in dealings and transactions specially those affecting small businesses and consumers,” De Lima said.

“This legislation actually rewards good business practices and goes against those who exploit markets or engage in abusive behavior,” said DOJ Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy, head of DOJ-Office for Competition.

 “Building a competition culture across all sectors of society is key. We are happy that we finally passed it,” added Sy.

Under the proposed law, the DOJ-Office for Competition is assigned to investigate cartels that are considered criminal actions.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expects a sustained strong economy with ratification of the Philippine Competition Act.

 “This law will push businesses to engage in a healthy rivalry so that they will gain more consumers. It gives us the incentive to be more efficient and to offer the public better quality products and services,” PCCI president Alfredo M. Yao said in a statement.

If enacted into law, Yao added that the Philippine Competition Act will encourage the entry of small firms into the market “with the expectation that rules will be applied equally to all.”

The European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, for its part, expressed full support behind the passage of a national competition law, saying it would “ensure a level playing field for business, protect consumer welfare and make the Philippine economy more competitive.”

“The passage of this landmark measure materialized through the collective efforts of the Senate and House and the full support of private stakeholders,” Sen. Bam said.

 Sen. Bam added that private stakeholders, such as the PCCI and the ECCP, were consulted in the crafting of the measure to ensure that the bill would be pro-business, pro-poor and pro-consumer.

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