Former President Benigno Aquino III expressed his admiration to Senator Leila De Lima after showing courage despite being detained inside Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center for more than two years.
Aquino made a message to Senator Leila De Lima for her 1000th day of being detained.
According to him, he visited De Lima many times but the lady Senator didn’t show any weakness.
“Kada dalaw ko kay Leila, ni minsan hindi niya ipinakita sa aking nanghihina ang loob niya. Ni Minsan hindi siya umiyak. Ni minsan hindi siya nag sasabing, ‘kawawa naman ako.'” said Aquino.
“Bagkus ano, parati niyang ipinaiintindi sa lahat ng dadalaw sa kanya na hindi [dapat] bumigat ang kalooban, hindi [dapat] sumama ang loob dahil sa awa sa nangyayari sa kanya. Talagang kahanga hanga siya,” he added.
The former President attended an event to mark the De lima’s 1000 days of “unjust detention”.
Aquino encouraged the people who attended the event to stand up against the wrongdoings of the current administration.
“Pwede tayong magwalang-kibo. Pwede nating hindi intindihin ‘yung nangyayari sa kapiligiran natin at hinahanda nalang natin ‘yung pagkakataon na tamaan tayo,” Aquino said
“Tanong ho, habang hindi pa tayo tinamaan, hindi kaya mas marapat dito na tayo manindigan? Dito na tayo magsabing hindi tama ang nangyayari kaysa naman madama na natin ang nararamdaman ni Leila nang dire-diretso,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator De Lima thanked her supporters and vowed to continue to fight with the people who got allegedly victimized by the current administration.
“Karangalan ko po na makulong dahil sa mga ipinaglalaban ko,” De Lima said.