Dispatch from Crame No. 1,159:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Maria Ressa's Nobel Peace Prize win

Isang malaking sampal sa mukha ni Duterte na kilalanin ng mundo ang kabayanihan ng mga inapi niya.

Democracy lives as long as there are those willing to sacrifice for it. It takes extraordinary courage to speak the truth, but it requires even more to do so in the face of oppression.

I join the world in congratulating and honoring my fellow human rights defender and democracy warrior Maria Ressa for her unwavering efforts in fighting for the freedom of expression and of the press. It gives us all hope that in the end, truth and justice will prevail.

Maria Ressa, by her defense of the truth in journalism, has avenged the persecution and bullying of journalists, from individual beat reporters all the way to the large collective of ABS-CBN employees who were driven out of their jobs and livelihoods out of petty reprisal by those who are offended by the truth, and the minions who lick their shoes.

More than a well-deserved personal victory, this historic award is a resounding affirmation to all seekers of truth that telling the true story of Filipinos and the real state of governance and democracy is worth fighting for. Dahil kung walang magbabalita ng katotohanan, wala ring totoong pagbabagong madarama ang ating Bayan.

Her win means one thing: Tuloy ang Laban ng mga Pilipino para sa Katotohanan, Katarungan at Kalayaan.

(Access the handwritten version, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_from_crame_no._1159)