Former Senator Leila de Lima, a steadfast critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, revealed an unusual source of comfort during her nearly seven years of imprisonment – stray cats, during a press conference on Monday.
These feline companions, often celebrated as internet superheroes and instant celebrities, played a crucial role in preserving her sanity within the confines of her detention.
Convicted under what she claims are allegedly bogus charges during Duterte’s reign, de Lima shared her poignant experience in a press conference, touching on themes of forgiveness and the emotional challenge of parting ways with her unorthodox companions—stray cats at her quarters in Camp Crame.
“I have learned to appreciate mundane things, small things in life,” de Lima recounted.
“Pag umuulan lumalabas ako sa quarters ko para lang obserbahan yong ulan and all that, and I have stray cats in my quarters,” she said.
“That’s why I was so sad. I was almost crying when I left Camp Crame today because I had to leave the cats there. They’ve been my companions. They kept my sanity intact.”
“It’s a purifying experience,” she added.
The former senator, known for her deep affection for animals, particularly cats, mourned the loss of her pet cat in November 2020.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, she shared the emotional impact of losing another cherished companion.
In 2019, she also released a statement about wanting to adopt an abused stray cat which was rescued by a security guard after reportedly being tied to and dragged by a truck at Araneta Center Cubao, Quezon City.
De Lima, an animal lover who owns dogs of different breeds and sizes and has stray cats inside her detention quarters in Camp Crame, said she hopes to adopt and pet the rescued cat named by her temporary keepers as ‘Van.’
In 2018, she condemned BGC, Taguig’s ban on feeding stray cats as “inhuman.” Despite her challenging circumstances, de Lima continued to share her experiences and joys related to her feline companions in subsequent social media posts.
But de Lima is not the only detained personality to find solace in the companionship of cats.
Joining the ranks of famous detained figures in history who are known cat lovers, such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Julian Assange, and Edward Snowden, de Lima’s connection with these animals offers a unique insight into the human need for companionship, even in the face of challenging circumstances.
Napoleon Bonaparte, while in exile on the island of Saint Helena, did have interactions with animals, including dogs and cats.
The island, where he was imprisoned after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, provided limited companionship for the former French Emperor.
One notable companion was a small black cat that Napoleon reportedly adopted during his exile, offering a glimpse into the human need for companionship even in challenging circumstances.
The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, sought asylum in the Embassy of Ecuador in London for several years. During this time, he had occasional visitors, including a cat that became well-known on social media.
The whistleblower Edward Snowden, who exposed global surveillance programs, sought asylum in Russia.
While there is no record of him having a cat during his time in Russia, he has expressed his appreciation for cats on social media.
The Daily Netizen 