De Lima files certificate of candidacy for Senator

On October 8, 2021, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima filed her certificate of candidacy for Senator in the May 2022 elections through her Official Representative and Spokesperson, Atty. Dino de Leon.

De Lima, who remains detained over bogus charges, said that she will continue to fight for the country despite the challenges brought about by her current situation.

"It is now four years and seven months since I have been arrested and detained on false charges to silence my voice against a lot of things that were going wrong under what was then the new administration of President Duterte."

"But like everything else, that administration is now at the twilight of its power. And as we come nearer to the end, the things that I have warned the whole nation about then are more and more being proven to be true," she said, citing corruption and killings.

"Together with VP Leni and under her leadership, I and the other candidates of the Liberal Party and our allies, continue to represent the opposition in this country."

"We present the people an alternative to the criminal government that now governs us in the most perverted sense, an alternative that should have been a continuity administration of peace, stability, and progress in 2016," she added.

The lady Senator from Bicol said she is seeking re-election to help stand the country back on its feet, strengthen the fight against violence and injustice and continue pushing for her advocacies

"Personally, even as I fight my own battle for my freedom, I cannot but also join the struggle of our people against injustice and oppression. My battle since 2016 when I was persecuted and then imprisoned goes hand in hand with the people's struggle for justice and progress," she said.

"I cannot but realize that this is what my whole being is now all about, this struggle to free myself and the Filipino people from this curse that has all but destroyed our nation," she added.

Moreover, De Lima said she wants to ensure that the Duterte government will be made accountable for the complete mess it made out of the country's economy and people's security, and for its many sins against the people, including mass murder and treason.

"Ang laban ni Leila ay ang ipaglaban ang Pilipino. Ikinulong man ako at binusalan, patuloy pa rin ang aking pag-alay sa sariling buhay at kalayaan para sa ating bayan. Kung sa sakripisyo at pagsubok, palagay ko po ay akin nang napatunayan ang aking kakayahan na iangat ang kapakanan ng bayan sa pansarili kong interes," she said.