Locsin downplays US ban vs ”jailers” of De Lima

December 23, 2019

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the US ban on the entry of so-called “persecutors” or “jailers” of Senator Leila de Lima has an impact to the country’s sovereignty.

“Yes, it has to do with sovereignty which if we waive here we may as well waive it to China and give Subic and Clark,” Locsin said in his Twitter account Monday.

Locsin downplayed the relevance of US policy on the De Lima’s case, which bans entry to the US of Philippine officials that allegedly caused the detention of the lady senator for drug-related charges when she was justice secretary.

“The only way for accused to go free is after trial; if convicted after pardon. Resolutions by legislature/ executive—native or alien—are of no moment,” Locsin stressed.

“US can refuse visas to anyone it wants for any reason; the PH deported a nun in that way. It is an aspect of sovereignty,” he said. DMS