(Eagle News) — Senator Leila de Lima, who is facing drug-related charges for her alleged role in the proliferation of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City, is seen here in this photo attending the rally organized by the Catholic Church criticizing the extrajudicial killings which priests, bishops, and human rights advocates blame on the drug war of President Rodrigo Duterte.
De Lima is facing the drug charges for her alleged role in the illegal drug trade at the NBP during her time as the secretary of the Department of Justice under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.
The Saturday dawn rally on February 18 was held exactly a week before the 31st year anniversary of the People Power rally that happened in February 1986.
The so-called People Power Revolution was sparked by calls from Catholic Church leaders in 1986 to topple then President Ferdinand Marcos whom they accused of cheating in the 1986 snap elections. They called on the public to go to EDSA and provide support for former Marcos Philippine Constabulary chief Fidel Ramos and Marcos Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile who then withdrew support from Marcos and shifted their allegiance to Corazon Aquino who later became the President after Marcos was ousted
Recently, the Duterte administration said that the 31st EDSA People Power Revolution will just be “simple and quiet” as Palace officials said the government is opting to “move on from just celebrating the past.”
“The whole thrust is moving the nation forward from just looking back at what has happened in the past… We can’t get stuck in the past,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told Palace reporters.
“The emphasis has shifted. it is no longer a celebration of the past. it is now a reflection of what can happen in the future,” he said.
President Duterte had earlier constantly criticized the Catholic Church priests and bishops for their alleged hypocrisy, and also spoke of the alleged corruption and reported sexual abuse as revealed in a book written by journalist Aries Rufo on the secrets of the Philippine Catholic clergy, entitled “Altar of Secrets.”
Saturday’s dawn event led by the Catholic priests, was dubbed as “Walk for Life.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines had called on the faithful to gather at the Quirino Grandstand, where Duterte held a huge pre-election rally, from 4:30am.