During Her Visit to Rizal, De Lima Faces ‘Duterte Chants’
LEILA DE LIMA – The former senator was met with ‘Duterte chants’ during her visit to Rizal while campaigning.
De Lima visited Rizal Province on February 16, 2025, to take part in the Taytay HAMAKA Festival. Accompanied by volunteers from the ML party list, where she is a nominee, she walked around Taytay to meet residents and supporters.
During her visit, she encountered a group of supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who loudly chanted his name as she passed by. In response, some members of De Lima’s team were seen giving a thumbs-down gesture toward the Duterte supporters.
Despite the tension, the former senator remained focused on her campaign efforts and expressed happiness at being able to personally connect with the people again after several years in detention.
“3 years ago, I missed the opportunity to campaign in person. Ngayon, sa halip na standee o tarpualin, narito ako at malayang lumalaban kasama ninyo. Dahil muli kong nakikita at nakakamayan, lalong tumitibay ang aking pag-asa para sa kinabukasan ng Pilipino,” De Lima said.
Meanwhile, Leila de Lima is officially running for senator in the 2025 elections under the Mamamayang Liberal Party. A veteran public servant, she previously served as Justice Secretary (2010-2015), Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (2008-2010), and senator from 2016 to 2022.
De Lima is known for her vocal stance on human rights, justice reforms, and opposition to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs. In 2017, she was arrested on drug-related charges, which she repeatedly denied, calling them politically motivated.
Over the years, key witnesses recanted their testimonies, leading to the dismissal of her cases. She was released in 2023 after nearly seven years in detention. Now, De Lima is making a political comeback, advocating for human rights, judicial integrity, and good governance. Her campaign is expected to highlight her resilience, the need for accountability in government, and her continued fight for democracy and the rule of law.