Dispatch from Crame No. 662:
Sen. Leila M. de Lima's statement on the perjury charge against Sr. Elen Belardo, RGS

12/6/19

Sa mata ng batas ni Rodrigo Duterte, isang paglabag ang ipagtanggol ang karapatang pantao kahit ng mga pinakamahihirap nating kabababayan, kung kaya't kahit ang isang 80 taong gulang na madre ay itinuturing na kriminal ng estado.

Sr. Elen Belardo, RGS, has dedicated most of her life serving the rural poor. She is now being charged with perjury and will be served a warrant of arrest anytime. Kailan pa naging kasalanan ang tumindig para sa katotohanan at magsilbi sa mga nangangailangan? This regime had brazenly made it its policy to criminalize dissent while letting murderers, drug lords, and corrupt officials go scot free.

Let us pray for Sr. Elen's safety. May our Lord Almighty guard and guide her throughout this ordeal. Let us also pray for our country that we may finally see the sun shine on our land.

Sr. Elen, I am with you in this fight, kasama ang mamamayang naninindigan para sa katotohanan at katarungan. Hindi habangbuhay maghahari ang dilim.