On Wednesday, Malacañang lambasted the Human Rights Watch (HRW)
for its continuous interference on the current administration’s charges against
detained Senator Leila De Lima.
The HRW has called on the government to drop all the charges
against the lady Senator.
De Lima was detained at Camp Crame on February 24 last year
over three separate drug cases filed by the Department of Justice.
“This recent call by the New York-based Human Rights Watch
for the government to drop all charges against Senator Leila de Lima is nothing
but sheer meddling with our country’s domestic affairs,” Presidential Spokesperson
Harry Roque said in a press statement.
“We condemn this continued interference not only because it
misleads the public, but because it mocks the integrity of our justice system,”
he said.
The spokesperson also explained that De Lima’s arrest
strictly followed the due process based on the competent and independent court’s
findings of the probable cause.
“Senator De Lima is being portrayed as a prisoner of
conscience, a so-called martyr for justice. She is none of these; she is facing
charges of criminal in nature, plain and simple,” Roque also said.
Roque, meanwhile, appealed to allow legal process to proceed
with the case accordingly since it is currently pending before the Muntinlupa
Court.
“It is unfortunate that HRW is that desperate to get some
media mileage and public attention in the Philippines by beating a dead and
decaying horse,” he said.
“On the other hand, this is quite understandable considering
that it is not getting any elsewhere in the world. In fact, it appears we’re
the only country that remains tolerant of their sad existence,” Roque added.
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