De Lima on running: Opportunity to advocate what’s closer to my heart
MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Leila de Lima said on Saturday that the new electoral opportunity is good for her heart, emphasizing that this will help her push for her advocacies and reach communities closer.
She previously accepted the nomination of Mamamayang Liberal party-list as its first nominee. It was the former senator’s another bid for elective post after she lost the senatorial race in the 2022 elections.
“Mayroon na naman po tayong oportunidad and this time around, mas maganda ito sa puso ko na magiging mas malapit sa iba’t ibang sector sa mga komunidad, sa mga marginalized sectors, advancing being their strong voice for welfare and interest,” said De Lima in a chance interview.
(We have another opportunity and this time around, this is better for my heart to be closer to different sectors and communities, the marginalized sectors, advancing being their strong voice for welfare and interest.)
De Lima, who was recently acquitted of all criminal charges filed against her by the Duterte administration, also said that the party-list bid is a platform for her to discuss issues and push for her advocacies.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: De Lima bares what’s next for her after acquittal
Article continues after this advertisement“Sa tingin ko pagkakataon na ito para ipasok ang aking adbokasiya lalo na sa karapatan pantao, lalo na sa demokrasiya, lalo na sa usapin ng katarungan, hustisya,” De Lima added.
(I think this is an opportunity to advance my advocacies, especially human rights, democracy and justice.)
Despite calls to run for the Senate again, the former senator previously said that she would not run for any public office in the 2025 elections as she would be focusing on her advocacies and helping Mamamayang Liberal, the sectoral wing of Liberal Party.
De Lima, alongside co-nominees former representatives Teddy Baguilat and Erin Tañada filed the certificate of nomination and acceptance for the party-list.
De Lima and Baguilat ran as senators under the slate of former vice president Leni Robredo in the 2022 elections while Tañada sought a Senate seat in the 2019 elections.
READ: Leila de Lima files CONA for Mamamayang Liberal party-list
Pushing for social justice
The former senator, a lawyer and a human rights advocate, said that the party-list will be pushing for social justice.
“As a party-list, sa Mamamayang Liberal, ang pangunahing causa namin, social justice for marginalized sectors. Katarungang panlipunan,” she noted.
(As a party-list, in Mamamayang Liberal, our main cause is social justice for marginalized sectors. Social justice.)
“This is another area, another world for me to willingly serve the people,” she added.
Further, Jet Riparip from Kababaihang Liberal, the women sector of Liberal Party, said that the social justice advocacy of the party resonates with her.
“Sa akin, ‘yon ang aking advocacy. Social justice. Kasi nakikita natin na iba yung justice para sa mayaman iba yung justice para sa mahirap,” she told INQUIRER.net.
(For me, that is my advocacy. Social Justice. Because we can see that justice for the rich is different from the justice for the poor.)
She also said that part of achieving social justice is to eat, go to school, and have a decent job.
“At part ng social justice ‘yung mga tao ay may pagkakataong kumain nang tama at ang mga anak ay makapag-aral at ang pag-aaral yung mahusay na pag-aaral. At yung isa pa, trabaho,” she added.
(And part of social justice is when people can eat properly and their children can study well. And one more, jobs.)