Trumped-up charges can never silence me, other political prisoners - De Lima

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has vowed to continue fighting for truth and justice for her fellow political prisoners who continue to suffer for merely fighting for what is right.

In her message for an online event entitled "TULAY: Mga Tugtugin at Tula Tungo sa Paglaya", read by her Chief of Staff, Atty. Fhillip D. Sawali, during the celebration of Political Prisoners Day on Dec. 7, De Lima said prison can only strengthen the resolve of political prisoners instead of silencing them.

"Sa pagpapakulong sa akin at sa mga kapwa ko bilanggong pulitikal, pilit nila kaming sinisiraan, ginigipit at pinatatahimik. Akala siguro nila, ang pagpapakulong sa mga totoong naninindigan ay katumbas na ng aming pananahimik, pagwawalang-kibo at pagsuko ng aming prinsipyo," she said.

"Iyan ang pinakamalaki nilang pagkakamali. Dahil sa pagkakait sa amin ng kalayaan, sa pagpataw ng limitasyon sa aming kilos, sa pagbusal sa aming bibig, alisin man nila sa amin ang lahat, ang matitira sa amin ay ang aming paninindigan at ang katotohanang wala kaming kasalanan," she added.

De Lima further stressed: "Halos apat na taon man akong nakabilanggo, patuloy ninyo akong kaisa, patuloy akong iimik, patuloy akong titindig. Kasama ninyo ako, kasama ng sambayanang Pilipino, lumalaban, naninindigan."

De Lima, the most prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, said she, along with all the innocent people jailed by the present administration, are aware that their incarceration are brought about by their courage to expose the abuses and lies of the powers-that-be.

"Sagisag ang pagbubuklod nating ito ngayon na gumawa man sila ng mga imbentong kaso, ilegal na mang-aresto at magpakulong nang walang ebidensya, hindi lahat ay kaya nilang takutin at patahimikin. Gagawa at gagawa tayo ng paraan para makaalpas sa tanikala, at patuloy na magsasalita't maninindigan tungo sa tunay na paglaya," she said.

Even in her unjust and illegal detention for trumped-up charges filed by Duterte and his sycophants, De Lima, a known human rights defender here and abroad, has remained vocal against the human rights abuses in the country.