Re-electionist Senator Leila De Lima on Thursday called on Filipinos to take the time to reflect and pray for justice and peace to happen in the country and abroad.
De Lima made the call in her Lenten message this Holy Week, saying this solemn occasion should be a time for people to renew and strengthen their faith in God.
“This Holy Week, I pray for redemptive grace for our people and country. I pray for Ukraine’s liberation from Russia’s unconscionable invasion and oppression. I pray for peace for the whole world. I pray for justice,” De Lima said in a statement posted on Facebook and Twitter.
The detained senator said the past few years has been difficult for most of the people especially with the country’s struggle against the Covid-19 pandemic which, until now, has not dissipated even in other parts of the world.
“Napakahirap po ng hamon na ating hinarap nitong nakaraang mga taon. At ang pangunahin nating pinagkukunan ng lakas at tatag ng loob ay pagdarasal at pananampalataya sa Panginoon, at ang pagdamay sa isa’t isa (We are facing a very difficult challenge for the past few years. And the primary source of strength and courage is prayer and our faith in God and our sympathy with each other),” she said in a pre-recorded video message.
De Lima, a devout Catholic, urged Filipinos to keep their faith amid struggles and challenges.
“Gaya ni Hesukristo, sa kabila ng tinanggap Niyang pang-aalipusta, pang-aapi at pagpapahirap dahil sa kagustuhang isiwalat at ipakalat ang katotohanan, hindi Siya natinag sa pananalig. Alam Niyang laging mananaig ang kalooban ng Diyos (Like Jesus Christ, he accepted the slander, the oppression, the torture with the aim of imparting truth and he didn’t waver in his faith. He knows that God’s will will prevail),” said De Lima, who is running for fresh term in the Senate in the May 2022 elections under Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan's tandem.
“Lagi lang po tayong magpakatatag para sa sarili, sa pamilya at sa bayan. Patuloy po nating ipagdasal ang panunumbalik ng hustisya at pangingibababaw ng katotohanan (Let us continue to be strong for ourselves, our family and for our nation. Let’s continue to pray for the restoration of justice and for truth to prevail),” she reiterated.