SOLIDARITY MESSAGE WITH PILIPINONG NAGKAKAISA PARA SA SOBERANYA (P1NAS) ON THE COMMEMORATION OF ARAW NG KAGITINGAN
"ATIN ANG PINAS! CHINA, LAYAS SA WEST PHILIPPINE SEA"

Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataong maging bahagi ng isang mapagpalayang araw na ito sa ating bansa, kasama ang mga gaya ninyo na sa kabila ng panggigipit at pananakot, ay hindi naman nagpapasindak, at lalo pa ngang nagpapamalas ng tapang at giting para sa kapwa at bansa.

I take pride in being with co-warriors like you who have chosen to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and have dedicated their time and efforts to reclaim our dignity as a people. You bravely called out the incompetence and cowardice of a mad man to defend what is for the Filipino, and exposed his faux bravado for what it truly is: a grand effort to establish and serve the interests of a dynasty over that of our country's.

But choosing the right side is only half the battle, as we must continue to do our part for our shared causes while soldiering in our collective struggle to promote human rights, uphold justice and protect our sovereignty. That is why we are gathered here today to demonstrate our indomitable will to protect the interests of the Filipino people, to stand up against a regime who is hell-bent to destroy everything good for which great forebearers have lived, fought and died for.

It is with this fundamental principle that I refiled a bill this Congress declaring July 12 of every year as a "West Philippine Sea Victory Day", in recognition of the country's arbitration victory against China over the contested islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Sapagkat tagumpay ito na dapat ikinararangal, hindi isinasantabi at ikinaduduwag pang ipagmalaki ng gobyerno.

Malinaw ang kailangan natin, lalo na sa panahong ito ng pandemya: Isang gobyernong kakampi ng Pilipino, hindi bahag ang buntot sa Tsino. Barko ng mga bakuna at gamit medikal, hindi ng mga dayuhang nanggigipit pa sa mangingisda at yumuyurak sa ating soberanya. Pagpapagaling sa mga maysakit, hindi red-tagging at pagpapakulong sa mga inosente at paninisi sa karaniwang mamamayan.

Through our will to speak and stand up against this regime of terror will this nightmare end and break apathy that has been used and abused by those who pursue their personal and political gains at the expense of the Filipinos. Magkaisa para ibalik ang kalayaan at hustisya.

Atin ang Pinas! China layas!

(Sgd.) LEILA M. DE LIMA

PNP Custodial Center, Camp Crame

9 April 2021