Press Release
May 13, 2018

De Lima urges public to remember women who have lost children to violence on Mother's Day

As she expressed appreciation for all the mothers across the nation in celebration of Mother's Day today, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has urged the public to remember the thousands of women who have lost their children to extrajudicial killings under the government's war on drugs.

De Lima, a mother of two, also asked the Filipino people to pray for guidance and continued courage for mothers who are experiencing abuses and working abroad to provide better opportunities for their loved ones.

"Malaking pagsubok na nga po ang maging ina. Mas pinabibigat pa ang responsibilidad na palakihing mabuti ang ating mga anak sa panahon kung kailan binabaluktot ang katwiran at ginagawang mali ang tama--sa laganap na patayan, pambabastos sa kababaihan, kasinungalingan at paglabag sa ating karapatan," she said in a statement from her detention.

Note that of the thousands killed in war on drugs, innocent children and teenager who have lost their lives are now relegated by the present government as mere "collateral damage."

De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, said she knows from experience that any mother in the world would think about the welfare of her children first, rather than herself, in whatever kind of situation.

"Hindi ko po maiwasan, na sa aking dinadanas ngayon bilang isang bilanggong politikal, nakararamdam ako ng matinding lungkot at pangungulila bilang isang ina sa aking dalawang anak, bilang lola sa aking mga apo, at bilang anak sa aking mahal na ina.

"Na sana, maayos lang ang kanilang kalagayan sapagkat hindi ko sila laging nakikita at nakakamusta. Na sa kabila ng pagsubok na aking kailangang malampasan at labanan, ay huwag nila akong gaanong alalahanin, dahil mas mahalaga sa akin ang kanilang kapakanan," she said.

By knowing the suffering a mother can endure for her children, De Lima also shared that she chose to protect her own mother from the knowledge that her daughter is in prison.

"Ito rin po ang dahilan ko at ng aking mga kapatid kung bakit itinatago namin sa aking nanay ang sitwasyon ko ngayon. Ayaw naming mag-aalala siya, at baka makasama pa ito sa kanyang kalusugan," she shared.

The Senator from Bicol likewise encouraged mothers to continue guiding the youth, adding, "bilang ina, bilang Pilipina, ay nagkakaisang itaguyod ang makatarungang kinabukasan para sa kanila."

News Latest News Feed