Leila de Lima's Tribute to PNoy on 4th Death Anniversary

Incoming congresswoman Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list issued an emotional message on Tuesday, June 24, highlighting the legacy of the late former president Benigno Noynoy S. Aquino III.

President Noy, thank you. You did not make noise, but your message resonated. You did not show off, but the people saw you. Amid the noise of politics, you remain the reminder that governance can be honorable, De Lima said.

Tuesday marked the fourth anniversary of Aquino's passing. He died of a renal disease at the age of 61.

Your legacy is not applause, but accountability. Not shouting, but principle. And in the hearts of those of us who continue to believe in truth, justice, and dignity, you are still here, the former senator said of Aquino.

De Lima was among Aquino's most trusted lieutenants during his presidency from 2010 to 2016.

She said she always carried this trust and was guided by it during the darker times of her life.

To this day, I carry his trust. That trust became a compass during my years in detention, when everything around me felt uncertain. I held on to the memory of his example: the restraint, the clarity, the honesty. I was reminded that leadership doesn’t always raise its voice. Sometimes, it simply does the work.

As the former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary, De Lima was simply told by Aquino to 'Do what is right.' That one sentence carried with it his full trust, and the full weight of public responsibility.

Under his leadership, I experienced what it was like to serve without fear, because you knew that you were being defended by principle. There was no coercion, no favoritism, no expectation of favors in return. He allowed the truth to take its course, even when it was uncomfortable, even when it meant shaking the status quo, she said.

He was not loud, but he was steadfast. He governed with quiet discipline and a fierce commitment to integrity. The kind of leadership that creates space for others to lead rightly, too, De Lima further said of Aquino.

She said that Aquino never put himself first. Instead, he served quietly, but left a deep and lasting mark on our democracy.