(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) slammed the European Parliament for its resolution urging the Philippine government to end alleged “extrajudicial killings” in its anti-illegal drugs campaign, among other demands.
“The European Parliament has crossed a red line when it called for unwarranted actions against the Philippines,” Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.
The European Parliament on Thursday, April 19 in a resolution called on the Philippine government to stop the extrajudicial killings and accused the Philippine authorities of “trying to justify these murders with falsified evidence.”
The resolution was made, but did not present any evidence to prove the accusation of alleged “extrajudicial killings.”
To this, Cayetano lashed out at the European Parliament, saying it had crossed a red line by adopting this resolution and that it was now meddling with the internal affairs of a sovereign state.
“In case the members of the European Parliament are not aware of it, may we remind them that their recommended actions already constitute interference in the affairs of a sovereign state,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano also said that aside from meddling, the resolution was based on biased and wrong information.
“This resolution that the European Parliament just adopted is based on biased, incomplete and even wrong information and does not reflect the true situation on the ground,” Secretary Cayetano said.
“As a sovereign state, the Philippines expects all members of the international community to respect the country’s prerogative to determine national priorities and policies that are responsive to the needs of its people,” he added.
Though the official said he acknowledged the views of the EU Parliament, Cayetano said the Philippine government will continue to cooperate with the EU for the Parliament’s resolution does not reflect the views of the European regional bloc as a whole.