De Lima: Duterte's ''reign of terror'' must end
Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima on Monday, July 26 reiterated that President Duterte’s ‘’reign of terror’’ and continued deception of the Filipino public as shown by his unfulfilled promises to the nation “must end.”
In her message in the rallies held before President Duterte delivered his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) this afternoon, De Lima cited her indictment letter to the President where she bewailed his failure to fulfill all of his campaign promises, particularly on illegal drugs, corruption, the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the economy.
“Sumulat ako sa Pangulo. Ang sabi ko sa kanya, nagkatotoo lahat ng binanggit ko umpisa pa lamang (I wrote the President. I told him that all what I have said from the beginning are true). Na wala talagang maaasahan sa klase ng pamamalakad na meron ka (That nothing good will come out of his bad management style). Isa kang malaking fake news (You are a big fake news),” she shared.
“Wala ka naman talagang alam kundi ang pumatay ng tao (You do not know anything except to kill people). Wala ka na ngang natupad sa iyong mga pangako, lalo na sa droga, korapsyon at West Philippine Sea, nakuha mo pang pabagsakin ang ekonomiya (All your promises did not come about, particularly on illegal drugs, corruption and West Philippine Sea (WPS) and you brought down our economy),’’ she added.
She stressed that Duterte is a dictator who ignores the law to satisfy his caprices.
It may be recalled that De Lima sent the indictment letter addressed to Duterte last July 21. In the said letter, she also declared that she would seek reelection in the 2022 national elections to continue fighting injustice and defending human rights.
De Lima said Duterte’s regime thrives on the weaponization of the law, repression of basic freedoms and manipulation of the truth, citing political assassinations, extrajudicial killings, red-tagging, and his use of foul tactics against her and all those whom he perceived as threats to his reign.
“And now the man who turned death, destruction and disorientation into a state policy wants to stay in power, this time, as Vice President because as he said, he will have immunity from suit,” she pointed out.
“He knows that the International Criminal Court (ICC) doesn’t recognize immunity when it comes to criminals, and he simply doesn’t care. This is one reason why his reign of terror must end,” she added.