Vice President Leni Robredo/Photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin |
The United States has every right
to ban the entry of Philippine officials involved in the imprisonment of
Senator Leila De Lima, Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday (September 29).
Vice President Leni Robredo made a
statement on Sunday, over the issue on the US banning of entry of Philippine
officials involved in the imprisonment of Senator Leila de Lima.
She said, the United States has the right to bar any government
officials involvement in opposition Senator De Lima’s detention to enter the
United States territory.
On the other hand, Robredo said on her radio show,
“Biserbisyong Leni,” that the Philippines can also free to choose whether to
ignore or accept the proposal currently pending in the US Senate.
“Choice naman natin iyong kung magpapa-pressure tayo o hindi,
‘di ba. Kahit pa anong gawin noong nasa labas na i-pressure tayo, nasa sa atin
kung magpapa-pressure tayo. In the same manner na choice din nila iyong
pagdedesisyon kung sino iyong papasok sa bansa nila o hindi,” Robredo said.
Recently, the US Senate’s
appropriations committee approved an amendment in one of the bills addressing
the issue on denying Philippine officials involved in De Lima’s imprisonment
from stepping on US territory.
De Lima has been detained at the
Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame for drug trafficking
charges since 2017.
Robredo said that the US was taking its campaign against human
rights violations seriously, and that the US was also serious with their
campaign against the use of government power to pressure political opponents.
Robredo said the Philippines should not
question the US Senate committee’s decision because it merely reflects the
values that it puts weight on.
“Siguro iyong pag-kuwestiyon noong aksyon
nila, hindi natin iyon puwedeng pakialaman kasi in the same manner na hindi
nila dapat pakialaman iyong mga desisyon natin, hindi din natin puwedeng
pakialaman iyong desisyon nila kasi statement iyon ng mga values na mahalaga sa
kanila,” Robredo added.
Source: Politiko
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