MANILA (UCAN): A Philippine senator, Leila de Lima, is seeking the repeal of a provision in the country’s penal code that punishes the crime of “offending religious feelings” through words and actions, saying that the “archaic” provision could violate an individual’s constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.
 
“Freedom of expression, which is a fundamental human right, is indispensable in any democratic society,” De Lima said.
 

MANILA (AsiaNews): The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation has announced that this year it will honour five people and one organisation from around Asia for their contribution to the development of society.
 
At a ceremony held in Manila on August 31, the vice president of the country, Leni Robredo, made a rare public appearance to preside at the ceremony and make the presentation of the awards.
 

MANILA (SE): Leila de Lima, a long-time arch critic of the president of The Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested on February 24 on charges of receiving drug money and protecting drug offenders in order to finance her campaign for the senate last year.

MANILA (UCAN): “I prepared myself already for the worst. I already said goodbye to my family,” Leila de Lima, the former secretary for justice and currently a member of the senate, said at a ceremony to mark World Day Against the Death Penalty in the bishops’ conference chapel in Intramuros, Manila, on October 10.