ISANG ‘trahedya’ sa demokrasya ang ginawa ng pamahalaang FM Jr., nang ipagbawal ang pagbisita kay dating Senador Leila de Lima kanyang birthday kahapon.
Ayon kay Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman pinagkaitan si De Lima nang hindi papasukin sa kanyang kulungan ang mga pinakamalalapit na kaibigan niya.
“She was unreasonably deprived of the company of her closest friends and ardent defenders,” ani Lagman.
Kasama sa nga pinagbawalan bumisita ay sina dating Supreme Court Justice at Ombudsman Conchita Morales, human rights advocate Atty. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno. Si De Lima ay nakakulong sa PNP Custodial Center sa Camp Crame.
Hindi, umano, naaprub ang request ni Diokno at Morales na bumisita. Ang pinayagan lamang ay ang mga kamag-anak.
Hindi rin, umano, naaprub ang request nina dating Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, dating Senator Frank Drilon, Atty. Christian Monsod, Professor Winnie Monsod, dating Secretary Mar Roxas, dating Congressman Tomasito Villarin at dating Secretary Julia Abad.
Ani Lagman, “every long day that passes with Sen. Leila still baselessly imprisoned tarnishes the human rights record of the Philippines.”
“We hope that this would be the last time Sen. De Lima will have her birthday in prison because every birthday in odious captivity is grossly tragic and an utter disaster for Philippine democracy and the rule of law,” ani Lagman. (GERRY BALDO)