Press Release
October 22, 2018

Dispatch from Crame No. 408:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Courage and Gary Alejano

10/22/18

Moral courage is a rare commodity in our country. Under the current climate of fear and terror in an emergent authoritarianism, seldom do we find someone - especially a politician - who has the guts and grit to speak truth to power and call out the excesses of authority. Gary Alejano belongs to that unique breed of courageous leaders. Naninindigan nang buong tapang at karangalan. Tunay na mandirigma at pinuno.

Hindi ito nakapagtataka. Halos alamat na ang katapangan at kagitingan ni Gary. Noong siya'y sundalo pa, tinanghal s'yang bayani sa kanyang matagumpay na pagtugis sa mga bandido at terorista. Marami rin ang humanga kay Gary, na kasamahan ni Sen. Sonny Trillanes at iba pang mga sundalong Magdalo sa pagsiwalat at paglaban sa katiwalian at pag-abuso ng gobyernong Arroyo.

Sa kasalukuyang Kongreso, buong tapang na tumitindig si Cong. Gary sa mga kalapastanganan ni Duterte at kanyang mga alipores na pinatunayan sa paghain n'ya ng impeachment complaint laban sa Pangulo, pagsumite ng reklamo sa ICC ukol sa mga patayan sa drug war, at maraming resolusyon at pahayag kontra sa pagbenta ng soberanya at interes ng Pilipinas pabor sa mga Tsino at maraming insidente ng korapsyon sa iba't ibang sangay ng pamahalaan.

And, Gary Alejano is not just a brave politician. He has the strength of character that inspires hope and uplifts the spirit of the people around him. I've personally witnessed this a number of times, like when he visited me last February during the first anniversary of my unjust detention, when he attended a get-together of friends and allies for my birthday last August, and when he relayed occasional messages for me. All these gestures - especially the encouraging words from him - have helped buoyed my spirit and motivated me to keep going.

Kaya labis akong natuwa sa pagtakbo ni Gary para Senador. S'ya at ang mga katulad n'ya ang lubhang kailangan ng bansa sa ngayon. Matapang. Maprinsipyo. Nagbibigay pag-asa.

These extraordinary times in the life of our nation demand an extraordinary brand of politics, of a kind that is brave and principled yet remains grounded.

We need leaders who have the will and capacity to confront the powerful, and the imagination and ability to lead the powerless. They will not shirk in their responsibility to the people, even as they have to make decisions on the basis of conviction not expediency or political survival. We badly need such leaders in this time and place. We badly need Gary Alejano at the Senate.

News Latest News Feed