By Carlos Jimwell Aquino

PHOTO: The Filipino Times

Senator Leila de Lima, who has been detained since 2017, confirmed Wednesday that she will run for reelection in the 2022 national elections, vowing to hold President Rodrigo Duterte accountable for unfulfilled campaign promises.

In a letter to Duterte ahead of his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26, De Lima criticized the administration's failures on illegal drugs, corruption, the economy, and the controversial West Philippine Sea.



The detained senator, in particular, claimed that the president failed to apprehend "big time" drug lords, citing Peter Lim, who is accused of supplying illegal drugs.

“Ako na ang tanging kasalanan ay magsalita laban sa EJKs ay nakakulong, samantalang ang mga tulad ni Peter Lim na may Warrant of Arrest sa pagiging big-time drug lord ay hindi mo man lang kayang ipaharap sa korte at hustisya,” De Lima said.

Furthermore, De Lima mentioned prominent Duterte's allies who have been accused of corruption, including Sen. Bong Go, Spokesman Harry Roque, and SolGen. Jose Calida, as well as some administration anomalies.

“Pinagpiyestahan ninyo ang kaban ng bayan. Walang hiya-hiya, walang pakundangan,” she uttered.



The opposition leader, moreover, lambasted the president for bowing down to China rather than defending the country's territorial integrity.

De Lima to Duterte: “Ang tanong po Pangulong Duterte, magkano? Magkano ang katapat ang pagtatraydor sa sariling bayan at paghalik sa paanan ng dayuhan?”

De Lima also stated that her four years of unjust detention has strengthened her resolve to fight for her advocacies.

"Tatakbo akong muli. Hindi ako susuko. Tuloy ang laban... Sisingilin ka namin sa anim na taon na pambabalasubas mo sa aming bansa,” she said.

“Sa iyong huling SONA, paso na ang iyong mga pangako. Kailangan nang tuldukan ang pang-budol-budol na ginawa mo sa buong bayan,” she ended.


Read the statement here: Issuu.com