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| Photo file of US Pres. Donald Trump and Pres. Rody Duterte (ctto) |
Manila, Philippines – On Tuesday, the lawmakers of the Makabayan group lambasted the United States President over the $2-million-dollar pledge for “drug demand reduction programs” in the Philippines.
The bloc hits President Donald Trump saying that what he did would only lead to more human rights violations under President Rodrigo Duterte.
Also, ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio surmised that said pledge would violate the federal law of the United States that prohibits grant of foreign aid to countries with human rights issues.
“The human rights violations of the police and the military under President Duterte are very clear. It is very clear that US federal law will be violated if (the US government) gives aid,” says Tinio in a press conference.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate further inclined that Trump’s pledge as disclosed in a White House stated dated November 5, might “only result (in) further violation of human rights.” And pointed the “hypocrisy” of the United States for granting the Philippines assistance even the country is according to him, violating human rights.
Zarate also pointed out that government has not only committed human rights violation on its bloody ““war on drugs,” but also in suppressing the political opposition.
“It’s not just the [Philippine] government that should be held accountable. The American government should be held accountable, too, for propping up regimes that violate human rights,” Zarate said.
President Trump on the other hand made an additional pledge of $14.3 million for Marawi rehabilitation aside from the initial $2 million meant solely for support in drug demand reduction programs of President Duterte.
The additional pledge for Marawi was announced by the White House before President Trump heads back home, late Tuesday night.
Source: Inquirer
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