De Lima: Filipinos should give importance to nation's future

FILIPINOS should join hands in helping the government eradicate poverty and graft and corruption, which plagued the country since independence was established from the Spanish colonizers 114 years ago, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

De Lima led Tuesday the Independence Day rites at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City.

She said the government made gains in improving the country’s stature before the international community, beginning with the fight against lack of integrity in nation service.

Recently, congressmen-allies of President Benigno Aquino III succeeded in ousting Chief Justice Renato Corona from office at the Senate impeachment court for concealing hefty cash assets, an offense tantamount to betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Along the way, online-savvy citizens participated in discussions and gave varying opinions regarding Corona's moral and intellectual fitness as de Lima credited them for displaying interest in shaping the country’s political history.

"The true meaning of this day is to remember our responsibility to continue to fight for our freedom, not only for the generations to come but in the present generation," De Lima said, adding the public should also help in the fight against illegal recruiters, human and drug traffickers.

"There is no need to offer one's life to be a hero and adhere to patriotism, but rather, what is needed now is respect to oneself and to others and giving importance to the nation's future, nothing more, nothing less," she said. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)