Philippine government officials are not taking down the possible
US ban on Duterte administration/government officials who are involved in the
detention of opposition senator Leila De Lima.
House Speaker Peter Allan Cayetano has categorically said the
provision of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act that can sanction Philippines officials involved in the "wrongful
imprisonment" of opposition senator Leila De Lima since 2017, is the “best example of weaponizing human rights.”
Cayetano, one of the supporters of
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte since the campaign of 2016, made a remark after
US President Donald Trump signed the US 2020 national budget, which contains a
provision allowing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to prohibit entry to the
US mainland of Philippine officials who have been involved in de Lima’s
imprisonment since 2017.
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| House Speaker Peter Allan Cayetano and detained opposition senator Leila De Lima (photo credit to ABS-CBN News) |
"This
is the best example of weaponizing human rights," Cayetano said in a press
conference, highlighting the negative implications of the US law.
“Kapag
sumunod ang officials natin at pinakawalan, bibigyan tayo ng visa, babagsak
naman ang judicial system natin (If our officials abide by this law and we
release [de Lima] to get these US visas, then our judicial system would
collapse)... There are judicial remedies. Pero kung ang gagamitin mo ay
yung US visa (But, if you use the US visa), this is weaponizing,"
Cayetano added.
The House Speaker has made an
open invitation to the members of the US Congress to visit the country to see for themselves that democracy still
exists in the country.
"Let
me use this opportunity to invite US Congressmen and women and US senators to
visit the Philippines... you would observe for yourself not only through news
reports what is really happening in the country,” he said.
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Report from PNA
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