(Eagle News)–Senator Leila de Lima has thanked a United States Senate panel for its move to ban Philippine government officials allegedly behind her detention.
In a statement, De Lima thanked US Senators Dick Durbin, Patrick Leahy and “many other champions of justice and democracy, for reminding us that the world is still watching.”
“The proposal of US Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy to impose a visa ban against abusive Philippine government officials is a clear message that impunity, while remaining unchecked in our country, may find an end in the ‘home of the brave and the land of the free’,” De Lima said.
Earlier, the Palace denounced the move for the travel ban, calling it a “brazen attempt to intrude into our country’s domestic legal processes” and an “insult” to the competence and capacity of Philippine authorities.
The Palace added, however, that the Philippines will not do any “repulsive action to reverse” the panel decision, saying it respects the democratic processes in the US.
The Philippines “shall leave it to the international community to ascertain which nation values the rule of law in accordance with the principle of state sovereignty,” the Palace said.
