The persecution of Leila de Lima
As a Philippine court decides today on one of the bogus drug cases the Philippine government filed against Leila de Lima — human rights defender, former senator, and former justice secretary — it is worth recalling many of the documents, reports, press releases, and dispatches that Human Rights Watch has published over the years.
We start with her investigation, as chair of the Commission on Human Rights, of the Davao Death Squad killings in Davao City, where Rodrigo Duterte was mayor for years. In this 2009 report, HRW documented several of these killings. As HRW pointed out in this press release last year:
De Lima earlier incurred Duterte’s ire when, as chairperson of the governmental Commission on Human Rights, she launched an investigation in 2009 into extrajudicial killings by the so-called Davao Death Squad in Davao City, where Duterte was the longtime mayor. Duterte later vowed “to destroy” de Lima.
"You Can Die Any Time": Death Squad Killings in Mindanao
The following are some of the documents HRW has published on de Lima since then. This list does not include submissions or letters to international bodies and foreign governments.
Philippines: Drop Cases Against Critics Before US Visit
Philippines: Witnesses Retract Testimony Against Duterte Critic
Philippines: Candidates Should Pledge to Free Jailed Senator
Philippines: Free Duterte Critic Held 4 Years
Philippines: Free Senator; End Attacks on Rights Defenders
Philippines: Drop Charges Against Duterte Critic
No End to Duterte’s Abusive Prosecution of ‘Drug War’ Critic
Philippines Slammed for Senator’s Politically Motivated Prosecution
Philippines: Outspoken Senator Arbitrarily Detained Two Years
Philippines: Police Deceit in ‘Drug War’ Killings
Philippines: Arrest of Duterte Critic Widens ‘Drug War’
Philippines: Drop Political Charges against Duterte Critic
Philippines: Committee Chair Ousted for Death Squad Inquiry
Here are some select articles written about the former senator:
Biden Should Press Philippines’ Marcos on Human Rights Concerns – The Diplomat
Opinion | President Duterte’s War on Drugs Is a Pretense - The New York Times
Living in Fear, Duterte’s Chief Critic Speaks Out From Philippine Jail - The New York Times
Unbeaten, unbowed: Leila de Lima marks six years in detention | Politics News | Al Jazeera
[OPINION] Six years as a Person Deprived of Liberty: Thoughts on Leila de Lima
Why is Philippine Senator Leila de Lima still behind bars? - Nikkei Asia
Philippines: Six years on, arbitrary detention of former Senator Leila de Lima continues - Amnesty International
[ANALYSIS] An international scandal: The continuing imprisonment of Leila de Lima
You can also check out other stories and news items online about her.