MANILA, Philippines – Senator Antonio Trillanes IV called on his colleagues in the Senate to join the call for the release of detained fellow Senator Leila de Lima. 

Trillanes delivered a privilege speech, urging other senators to express outrage at the “injustice” done to De Lima, President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critics.

“Kaya ang aking apela sa aking mga kasamahan dito sa Senado, panahon na para ituwid natin ang malaking pagkakamaling ito at sumama sa aking panawagan na palayain si Senator Leila de Lima,” Trillanes said on Wednesday, August 30.

(My appeal to my colleagues in the Senate, it’s time to correct this huge mistake and join me in calling for the release of Senator Leila de Lima.)

Trillanes said De Lima’s imprisonment is a “clear case of political persecution,” citing the questionable testimonies of drug convicts used against her.

He added many institutions have already called for the release of De Lima, who was included in Time Magazine’s top 100 most influential people in 2017.

The European Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union earlier passed resolutions calling for De Lima’s freedom.

Other agencies such as Global Commission on Drug Policy, Amnesty International, Asia Catalyst, and the ASEAN Parliamentarians on Human Rights have also urged for her release.

“Gaya nating lahat, hindi perpekto si Senator De Lima pero alam natin, deep in our hearts, na hindi siya involved sa illegal drugs at lalo nang hindi siya Drug Queen. Hindi po siya criminal para tratuhin na parang isang criminal,” Trillanes said.

(Like all of us here, Senator De Lima is not perfect but we know deep in our hearts that she is not involved in illegal drugs and all the more she is not a Drug Queen. She is not a criminal to be treated like a criminal.)

“Pinaratangan lang siya. There was no overt action done at all to merit her incarceration. Kung nag- express tayo ng outrage sa pagpapalaya kay Supt. Marcos at kanyang mga kasamahan na maliwanag na nag-commit ng murder, dapat lalo tayong magalit sa ginawa at ginagawa kay Senator De Lima. By any established standard, that is injustice,” he added, referring to the cop who led the operation that killed Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr in his prison cell.

(She was just accused. There was no overt action done at all to merit her incarceration. If we expressed outrage on the release of Supt. Marcos and his allies who committed murder, we should all the more be angry at what is being done to Senator De Lima. By any established standard, that is injustice.)

Trillanes then urged the Senate public order committee, led by Panfilo Lacson, to probe the supposed fabricated testimonies against De Lima presented during House committee hearings.

Axe to grind

In addressing his colleagues, Trillanes said De Lima might have stepped on some of them during her stint as justice chief. But this, he said, should not overpower justice.

In fact, Trillanes said De Lima opposed her amnesty then but it did not dictate his decisions involving her and the “truth.”

“I know Senator De Lima may have offended some of you, personally, during her tenure as Secretary of Justice. I had my own run-ins with her when she opposed our amnesty then. Quite ironic because here I am now, standing by her; standing for her; fighting for her,” Trillanes said.

“Ganito rin ako makipaglaban para sa iba sa inyo nung nakaraan. Ganito tayo dapat sa isa’t isa, lalo na kung para sa tama. 6 months na siyang nakakulong, mabigat na parusa yan sa para isang taong walang pagkakasala. My colleagues, it’s time to do the right thing,” he said.

(This is how I also fought for some of you in the past. This is how we should be with each other, especially for what is right. She has been detained for 6 months, that is a heavy punishment for someone who has not sinned. My colleagues, it’s time to do the right thing.)

De Lima has been detained in the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame for more than 6 months. She claims the drug charges against her were fabricated by the President and his allies.

On Sunday, August 27, De Lima celebrated her 58th birthday, her first in jail. – Rappler.com