Leila de Lima, free at last
Definitely, the most important news this past week was the release on bail of former Sen. Leila de Lima. She has been incarcerated for almost seven years, mostly during the term of Rodrigo Duterte. It is not surprising that she has been released under the new President.
The charges against de Lima were involvement in the illegal drug trade in the Bilibid prison. Several of the original so-called witnesses have recanted their testimonies. She was however kept in jail and has gained international status and recognition as a political prisoner.
The stories of heroes and heroines kept in jail for political beliefs and opposition to those in power are common in Philippine history. The most famous, of course, was our national hero, Jose Rizal who was suspected by the Spanish colonizers of fomenting a rebellion against the Spanish authorities.
During the Japanese Occupation during the Second World War, many prominent Filipinos were held in captivity. Among the most well known was Pedro Abad Santos, the founder of the Socialist Party and the first head of the Hukbalahap, which became a primary resistance movement. Abad Santos died while he was in jail.
In the present era, upon the declaration of martial law by then President Marcos, several dissenters were put in jail. This list included leading opposition senators like Jose Diokno, then Senate President Jovito Salonga, and titans of the Philippine press like Chino Roces, founder and head of the original Manila Times, and Eugenio Lopez, Jr., head of ABS-CBN, even then the largest broadcasting network in the Philippines.
The most famous political prisoner was Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino whose martyrdom was the primary motivation for the EDSA People Power Revolution, which resulted in the peaceful return of democracy to the country.
I am sure that De Lima’s story will be an inspiration especially for today’s youth. Her refusal to compromise on her political beliefs has earned her international recognition and admiration. Her strong adherence to her personal crusade was exemplified by her refusal to accept bail and be released on humanitarian grounds because it would imply admission of guilt on her part. She was determined to
