Dispatch from Crame No. 414:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Maranao and Bangsamoro woman leader Samira Gutoc-Tomawis running for Senator: Ang Kwento at Kwenta ni Samira Gutoc-Tomawis

You may not know SAMIRA GUTOC-TOMAWIS, but she knows us. You may not be familiar with her face, but she's the face of the ordinary Filipina.

Samira first broke into the national consciousness on 22 July 2017, when she valiantly spoke before the joint session of Congress that resolved to extend the martial law in Mindanao. A Maranao and Bangsamoro woman leader, she recounted the stories of abuses suffered by the Bangsamoro people resulting from the Marawi siege and the martial law in Mindanao.

May 22 bangkay na Muslim na hindi malibing-libing ng 60 araw na. May isang 20-anyos na special child na binuhusan ng mainit na tubig ang kamay habang pinupukpok ng baril. May 26 na mga lalaki na matapos iligtas ay piniringan, pinaghubad at marahas na na-interrogate. May isang buntis na nakipagsiksikan sa social ward ng ospital na nasaksakan ng gamot nang maraming beses at nagresulta sa kamatayan ng kanyang sanggol.

Samira's stories must be told and re-told. At ang kanyang mga kwento ay dapat namang mapakinggan ng bayan at aksyunan ng mga kinauukulan.

Ngunit higit pa sa mga kwento ay ang kwenta ng nagkukwento, si Samira mismo.

Samira represents the deepest aspirations of our people, the dreams and longings of the women, the minorities, and other marginalized and vulnerable groups in our society. She is the face of social justice. She is the strong voice of reason, passion and compassion aching for every one of us to have a seat at the table.

Dala-dala ni Samira ang lalim at lawak ng pambansang diskurso, ng kinakailangang pagmamalasakit upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng bawat isa, upang mahanap ang ganap at pangmatagalang solusyon para manumbalik at tumatag ang demokrasya sa Pilipinas at maibangon ang dignidad ng Pilipino.

Pakinggan natin si Samira. Bigyang-puwang natin ang kababaihan at minorya. Si Samira ang kailangan para sa isang Senadong para sa lahat.