Press Release
March 8, 2019

Dispatch from Crame No. 480: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Panelo's and Sara Duterte's statements on honesty

3/8/19

Sal Panelo and Sara Duterte represent what is wrong and how things could be worse for our government.

It appears that these two pro-administration mouthpieces do not consider the matter of honesty as an important election issue. It is, absolutely.

It all began when our voters questioned Imee Marcos on her educational attainment. Her supporters rushed to fabricate lies to make it appear that she obtained college degrees when she did not. Hindi na nga qualified, nagsinungaling pa. Kung ang Game of Thrones may Night King, si Imee ang Night Queen. Zero Degree.

Our Constitution is clear on this. Article II, Section 27 reads:

"The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption."

Before anything else, a public servant must have honesty and integrity. Bago pag-usapan kung magaling o edukado ang kandidato, ang unang tanong dapat ng ating botante: Nagsasabi ka ba ng totoo? Naglilingkod ka ba ng tapat?

Granted, nobody is perfect. But the blatant disregard for honesty when confronted with a clear and evident truth is damning. Ang isang gobyernong walang pakialam kung totoo o hindi ang sinasabi nila ay hindi karapat-dapat sa tiwala ng ating taumbayan.

Hindi na ako nagugulat na sinusuportahan nila ang mga kandidatong kilala sa kaso nilang pandarambong at tahasang nagsisinungaling. Kunwari pa sila na galit sila sa korapsyon. Simpleng pagsisinungaling lang, pinagtatanggol pa nila.

Sigurado, ang balik na naman nila sa akin, kesyo sangkot daw ako sa droga. My case, like their fleeting influence, was built on lies. Kailangan pa nila magsinungaling at mameke ng mga testimonya at ebidensya para lang maipakulong ako. Sa araw na lumabas ang katotohanan, mapapalaya ako at mapapahiya sila. I'm not surprised that they do not value honesty. They are in power now because of lies and deceptions, or sheer dishonesty.

Nananawagan ako sa ating sambayanan. Alang-alang po sa ating bayan at sa ating mga anak. Huwag po nating iboto ang mga sinungaling, magnanakaw, at mandarambong. Matuto na po tayo.

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