Press Release
August 10, 2017

De Lima to LP: Let's not allow others to define us by color

Senator Leila M. de Lima has called on her partymates to remain committed to their role of promoting democracy and liberalism even if some members have already allied themselves with the ruling administration party.

In her message during the recent National Executive Council Meeting of Liberal Party (LP), De Lima said they should all be proud of being tagged as "yellow" for standing up to liberal values of truth, justice and democracy.

"Marami nang pinagdaanang pagsubok ang Partido Liberal. Sa panahon man ng kadiliman, nasa tuktok man ng kapangyarihan, pinanday ang LP para pumanig sa tama at makatarungan. The challenge to each and every one of us: Let us not allow others to define us by color." she said.

"I am proud to be Yellow. Pero higit sa pagiging dilawan, mga Pilipino tayong naninindigan para sa hustisya at demokrasya. Let us not allow ourselves to be defined as a party with members who jump ship whenever there is a new ruling party. Our democratic values and principles are greater than those who act only to accomplish their political or personal agenda," she added.

De Lima's brief message was read by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV during LP's National Executive Council Meeting held at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City last Aug. 10.

LP stalwarts ratified Vice President Leni Robredo's chairmanship as well as the party presidency of Senator Francis Pangilinan. The gathering also named former president Noynoy Aquino as the chairman emeritus.

Note that since former Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte assumed Presidency, several LP members have shifted alliances to the now ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party.

De Lima, a known human rights defender, said the LP is faced with a challenge of fulfilling its role as "party for the people" at a time that liberal values and principles are being undermined.

"Hindi magtatagal, ang nangyayaring ito sa bansa ay pilas na rin ng kasaysayan na babalikan ng mga susunod sa atin. Nasa atin, kung sa kasaysayang ito, kikilalanin pa rin ang LP bilang tunay na partido ng liberalismo, ng prinsipyo, at ng mga Pilipinong nagmamalasakit sa kapwa Pilipino," she said.

The country's second oldest political party, LP produced four presidents. Among them are the late presidents Manuel Roxas (1946), Elpidio Quirino (1949), and Diosdado Macapagal (1961), and former present Benigno Aquino III (2010).

De Lima, touted as a "prisoner of conscience," has always maintained her innocence from all the false illegal drug charges filed against her by the Duterte administration, based on fabricated evidence and perjured testimonies of convicted criminals.

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