Palace hits US senator for false assumption on De Lima’s case

September 29, 2019

Malacanang on Sunday slammed United States Senator Patrick Leahy over his statement on Philippine officials allegedly abusing the justice system for "political retribution."

Aside from Leahy's proposal to ban entry of Philippine government officials involved in indicting Senator Leila de Lima, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the US senator made more false assumption regarding the case.

"Senator Leahy’s statement assumes he has sufficient knowledge of our substantive and procedural laws that constitute our country’s justice system. It further assumes that he personally examined the record folder of the case and after evaluating it concluded that there was an abuse in the judicial process De Lima underwent. ," said Panelo

"Both assumptions do not exist as the good US Senator is ignorant of our procedural rules subjecting a person charged with the commission of a crime. Neither has he set foot in the country for the sole purpose of personally examining the case of De Lima that he may have a reasonable basis to buttress his proposal," he added.

Panelo said there was no abuse and wrongful imprisonment in the case of De Lima.

He added that Leahy, who is also a lawyer, was making baseless conclusion based on his limited knowledge about the Philippine judiciary system.

"For the enlightenment of Senator Leahy, there would (have) been abuse in the case of Senator De Lima if she was formally charged without the existence of a probable cause and if she was arrested without a warrant of arrest or if a warrant of arrest was issued by a judge without a finding of probable (cause) or if during the preliminary investigation she was not afforded the opportunity to submit countervailing evidence in her behalf," he explained.

The spokesperson called out Leahy for making up "false and malicious" narrative against the country's government officials. He suggested that the foreign senator must have been talking about his "abuse of his freedom of expression."

He further reiterated that the country will not accept grant or aids from another country who meddle with Philippines' internal affairs and sovereign rights.

"We remind Senator Leahy that the Republic of the Philippines is not a vassal nor a colony of America. It is an independent state that is fiercely protective of its sovereignty and subservient to no other country," Panelo said.

On Friday, the US State Committee approved proposal by US Senators Messeiurs Durbin and Leahy to ban Philippine government officials involved in the detention of De Lima from entering the US. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS