De Lima vouches for 3 LP senatorial aspirants

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has vouched for the first three senatorial aspirants of the Liberal Party for next year's elections whose names are "super brands" in Philippine politics.

As scions of opposition leaders during the Marcos regime, De Lima said she admires how Sen. Paolo "Bam" Aquino IV, Law Dean Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno, and former Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III have continued the legacy of their respective families in fighting dictatorship.

"Ninoy Aquino, Pepe Diokno at Lorenzo Tañada. Mga pangalang nakilala noong panahon ng diktadurang Marcos dahil sa kanilang katapangan at kabayanihan. Malaki ang naiambag nila sa pagkamit ng kalayaang mayroon tayo ngayon," she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 388.

"Bam Aquino, Chel Diokno at Erin Tañada. Mga pangalang nakikilala naman ngayon sa panahon ng bagong diktadura ni Duterte dahil sa kanilang paninindigan at paglilingkod sa mamamayan. Ipinagpapatuloy ang mga nasimulan ng kanilang mga bayaning kapamilya," she added.

Aquino, Diokno and Tañada have formally been nominated as the LP's initial line-up of candidates in next year's midterms election during the party's National Executive Council (LP-NECO) in Quezon City last Sept. 25.

De Lima heaped praises on the three LP senatorial aspirants whom she considers her "good friends" who "represent the very best and the very brightest who are willing and able to engage in a brave brand of politics."

Describing Aquino as a dependable ally in Senate minority, De Lima shared how he "has made an indelible mark as a champion of education, entrepreneurship and technological innovations in our country."

She described Diokno as one of her lawyers par excellence and a partner in many battles for the people's civil liberties and basic freedoms.

Expressing admiration for Tanada, De Lima referred to him as "a respected party leader and has been a generous spokesperson and fellow exponent of our shared advocacies for democracy, human rights and rule of law in our country."

The former justice secretary said she believes that LP, as a dominant opposition political party today, has made the perfect choices for its initial senatorial slate.

"The decision is symbolic as it is well considered," she said. "Sila at ang mga kagaya nila ang kailangan natin sa yugtong ito ng ating kasaysayan. Hangad ko ang tagumpay nilang tatlo na magiging tagumpay rin ng bayang Pilipino."