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[av_heading heading=’Adversaries de Lima, Duterte in TIME 100 ‘most influential’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Saturday, April 22, 2017
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MANILA – Sen. Leila de Lima said she was “deeply humbled” by her inclusion in Time Magazine’s list of 100 “most influential people”.
“The struggle for human rights and the fight for justice for those who have been murdered by the Duterte regime in its drug war are not popular causes as of the moment,” said de Lima, now detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center over charges of drug trafficking.
In former US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power’s write-up for de Lima, the senator was described as the “most vocal critic” of President Rodrigo Duterte.
She was also quoted in the article as saying: “It’s not OK with me that we have a murderous psychopath occupying the highest post in the land.”
Amid her detention in February, Power said the former Justice secretary continued her criticism against Duterte’s deadly war on drugs.
“For many of our countrymen, it is more convenient to huddle up close to Malacañang and reap the benefits of being a sycophant, rather than take the road less travelled but be the victim of political persecution by a vengeful strongman,” according to her.
While she could have stayed silent on the administration’s brutal drug war, de Lika said she chose not to since “that would have been a betrayal of the country, the oppressed, the marginalized and the fight for justice.”
Aside from de Lima, Duterte also made it to the Time’s annual “most influential” list./PN
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