ILPS supports detained Senator Leila de Lima in the defense of civil and political rights

The International League of People’s Struggle-Philippines stands in support of Senator Leila De Lima, who has been unjustly imprisoned under bogus allegations of involvement in the drug trade. ILPS-Philippines demands her immediate release and the recognition of her civil and political rights taking into account her contributions to the advancement of human rights in the country.

De Lima led the Senate investigations into extrajudicial killings in the context of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. To this day, Oplan Tokhang remains unchecked, with an estimated 27,000 casualties according to the Commission on Human Rights.

International organizations have acknowledged the importance of De Lima’s work on human rights and have conferred to her various awards such as the Prize for Freedom by Liberal International and “Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender” by Amnesty International. De Lima has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The detainment of De Lima is politically motivated and is reflective of the administration’s treatment of human rights activists. The Duterte regime is particularly malevolent towards women activists — members of national democratic mass organizations and progressive lawmakers such as Cristina Palabay of KARAPATAN and Sarah Elago of Kabataan Partylist, among many others, suffer from attacks on their personas and endure threats to their lives for crusading against social inequalities and injustice.

ILPS-Philippines calls on the Filipino people to unite against fascism and tyranny espoused by the Duterte regime and reactionary forces.

Free all political prisoners!
Free Leila De Lima!
End Duterte’s tyranny!