MANILA – Detained Sen. Leila de Lima was
hailed as the Fourth Most Influential Woman of the Year 2019 from across the
globe for her courage and determination to defend human rights.
Based on the citation, which was given by London-based business newspaper
Financial Times, De Lima was the only Filipino to make it to the list of
different women from different countries who “stood out” for their bold stance
on current issues and inspiring advocacies.
“The Filipino senator remains detained over drugs allegations that she and her supporters
say were fabricated,” read De Lima’s description.
“De Lima had led a human rights investigation against Rodrigo Duterte into
alleged extrajudicial killings that took place while he was mayor of Davao
City. Her handwritten dispatches from her cell are incisive missives and
commentary on the issues the Philippines faces,” it added.
Financial Times, one of the world’s leading news organization, also named
climate activist Greta Thunberg, businesswoman and campaigner Gina Miller,
former governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Valeria Gontareva, and
journalist Carrie Gracie.
Also cited were New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, United States
presidential aspirant Sen. Elizabeth Warren, European Union Commissioner
Margrethe Vestager, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Norwegian Prime Minister
Erna Solberg, among others.
“The women awardees, were cited for breaking new ground in 2019 or brought
attention to some of the most important issues of our time, whether in their
own community or at a national or international,” it said./PN
