Malacañang defends PNP in barring Liberal Int'l president's visit to De Lima

Malacañang on Sunday defended the Philippine National Police (PNP) in preventing the president of Liberal International from visiting detained Senator Leila de Lima.

"Our authorities are strictly following protocols in the PNP Custodial Center.  It is unfortunate that the name of Mr. Juli Minoves, President of Liberal International, was not included in the list of approved visitors scheduled to see Senator Leila De Lima on that day," presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

He said the PNP had explained why Minoves was barred from visiting De Lima at the Custodial Center.

"There is no need to add political color to an issue which has none," he added.

Minoves' companions, Liberal International's Human Rights Committee chair Markus Loening and Friedrich Naumann Foundation-Philippines president Wolfgang Heinze, were allowed to enter the Custodial Center and meet De Lima on Saturday.

Minoves said the police used an "administrative excuse" to prevent him from visiting the senator, who is detained on drug-related charges. —ALG, GMA News