Palace says US Senate Resolution on de Lima ”brazen and heedless affront” against gov’t

December 14, 2019

Malacañang on Saturday slammed the recent decision of the US Senate Committee's resolution to release detained Senator Leila de Lima.

  The Palace described the decision as "a brazen and heedless affront" against the Philippine government and the country's sovereignty. 

  "It is an undisguised and outrageous intrusion to a sovereign state. There can be no excuse for the US Senate Committee not to know that the Philippines has long ceased to be a colony of the United States," said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. 

  On December 12, the US Senate panel approved the Resolution No. 142 or the resolution "Condemning the Government of the Philippines for its continued detention of Senator Leila De Lima, calling for her immediate release, and for other purposes."

  The resolution also denounced the arrest and detention of human rights defenders as well as the harassment, arrest, and undued judicial proceedings against journalist Maria Ressa. 

  Panelo said the decision is seen by the administration "with grave concern." He explained that the two personalities were placed to face criminal prosecution for committing offenses against the country's laws. 

  He added both were provided "procedural due process" throughout the processes of their criminal prosecution. 

  "In every stage of the  proceeding, both exercised their constitutional right to due process and to competent counsel of their choice. They continue to avail of all available legal remedies for their  defense," Panelo said.

  "Ressa was given provisional liberty by the hearing court while De Lima’s continued detention remains on account of the nature of  the crime she is charged with and the court’s finding that the evidence against her is strong," he added. 

  He further defended that the investigating public prosecutors and the court found probable cause in the both cases which led them to issue warrants of arrests. 

  Panelo urged US senators to follow and respect the judicial processes used by the Philippine government. 

  "We would expect the responsible US senators to be familiar with our processes considering that the protection and limitations of the rights of an accused are also inscribed in the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to their Constitution," he said. 

  He said the cases against De Lima and Ressa have nothing to do with the US' views on the Duterte Administration. 

  Panelo said there are no records to support the claim that there has been someone "hailed to court on account of one’s exercise of the freedom of the speech and of the press."

  The US Senate resolution, according to Panelo, bares "prejudice upon which the good US senators based their conclusion on the situation in our country, which have absolutely no basis in fact nor in law."

  "While we continue to respect the US Senate as an institution, we however will not allow our sovereignty trampled upon by a few of their members," he said. 

  "We hope that probing and educated minds will ultimately prevail and that such misguided and intrusive act shall not tarnish nor diminish the warm relations between our two countries," he added. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS