Today's Exactly100: Tragic

Our Brew -
By National Library of the Philippines (distributed by Philippine Presidential Museum and Library) - Public Domain

“A lawyer must work in freedom; and there is no freedom when conformity is extracted by fear, and criticism silenced by force.” 

These words were written by the late senator and human rights lawyer Jose W. Diokno when the nation was under the grip of martial law, when being a human rights lawyer was a calling only for the brave, when silence carried the unpardonable penalty of legitimizing oppression, of surrender to dark forces.

Today, the lawyers of former president Duterte invoke human rights, spew hate, and aggravate discord without fear of reprisal. Indeed, we live in a tragic Republic. /Joey Salgado