Detained Senator Leila de Lima thanked the Liberal International (LI) after it awarded her the “Prize for Freedom” for her “exceptional contribution to the advancement of human rights” in the Philippines.
“I humbly thank the LI, particularly my fellow liberals who personally attended the awarding ceremony last Saturday, July 28, for going the extra mile to recognize my efforts in defending justice and human rights and for keeping their faith in me amid this ordeal,” de Lima said on Wednesday, August 1.
“Though I failed to personally attend the awarding ceremony due to my current situation, knowing LI is on my side eases my tribulations and deepens my resolve to keep on fighting for my causes,” she added.
Last July 28, Saturday, de Lima’s eldest son, Israel received the trophy on her behalf in a ceremony held in Quezon City.
De Lima, who was regarded by LI as a “flag-bearer for human rights in the Philippines,” is the second Filipino to receive the award after former Philippine President Corazon “Cory” Aquino in 1987.
Aquino was recognized “for her world-renowned advocacy of democracy, peace, and the empowerment of women.”
The opposition senator, who is one of the staunchest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, said despite the attacks and “obvious lies” being thrown at her, she is “grateful for their firm belief of my innocence.”
“Their presence is a testament that indeed, the world is watching closely what is happening not just to me, but in our country under a selfish and vengeful leader sitting in Malacañang,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, the Palace on Sunday said that while de Lima received such award, it believed that the public’s attention should not be diverted from the charges she is facing,
“De Lima, we reiterate, is no prisoner of conscience. There is now a case against her before our local court and as a respect to her right to due process, all legal processes are proceeding accordingly,” it said.
The lady senator is currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.