‘Fury’ thanks Inquirer for humbling honor

Let me thank the Inquirer for giving me the unexpected and humbling honor of being one of those collectively named “Filipino of the Year” for the year 2014, along with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Commission on Audit Chair Grace Pulido-Tan (Front Page, 2/1/15), also dubbed the “3 Furies.”

While I had occasion, sometime in December 2013 (when the moniker “one of the three Furies” was first applied to me), to humorously say that I much preferred a reference to “Praxidike,” as I deemed our work to be more properly related to punishment and justice rather than vengeance, I am, in all seriousness, quite aware of the deep implication of identifying the three of us as the Inquirer’s “Filipino of the Year.” It is a manifestation that we, as a nation, have collective aspirations: to end impunity, to right the wrongs through the triumph of the Rule of Law, and to bring to justice those who have violated our laws, and our trust and confidence, all without fear or favor. For this, I am deeply and greatly honored to be considered one of the “transformative women” who reflect these aspirations.

As public servants, our highest calling is to protect the common good and promote the interests of the public. Thus, it immensely heartens and gratifies me to believe that I, along with my fellow so-called “Furies,” have been able to help positively transform the connotation and expectations associated with public servants, i.e., into persons who are always prepared and able to do what is needed when called to action, even if it requires the making of difficult decisions and even if it means incurring the ire of the powerful, influential and even the dangerous.

Again, I thank the Inquirer for the honor. In times of great trials and challenges (which seem to be the norm when one’s mandate is as broad and grave as that of secretary of justice), it is recognitions such as this that serve to reinvigorate and reinforce my resolve to continue serving with integrity, competence and courage.

—LEILA M. DE LIMA, Secretary, Department of Justice