IPU reiterates deep concern for De Lima's detention, calls for her immediate release

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has adopted a resolution reiterating its deep concern over the continued pre-trial detention of Senator Leila de Lima more than a year since her arrest. 

As it closed its 138th Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland on March 28, the IPU governing council also puts to task the Senate, under Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, to ensure that De Lima is allowed to participate in the deliberations in fulfillment of her duty as a duly-elected legislator.

IPU is an organization of national parliaments from different parts of the world. The Philippines is one of the 178 member parliaments of the IPU.

“(IPU) considers that the Senate had special responsibility to help ensure that its colleagues participate in its deliberations and to speak out when they face reprisals for their work,” it said.

It called out the chamber for not making a stand for De Lima as it expressed hope that the Senate will do so soon.

“(IPU) regrets therefore that the Senate has not been able to take a firm stance in favor of De Lima’s direct participation in the Senate’s most important work (and) sincerely hopes that the Senate, under leadership of its President, will finally be able to act in solidarity with its colleague,” it said.

The IPU also reiterated its call for the immediate release of De Lima and to abandon the legal proceedings against her unless serious evidence is rapidly forthcoming.

It said that the IPU Committee mission report clearly shows that the steps taken against De Lima were in response to her vocal opposition to President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, including her denunciation of his alleged responsibility for extrajudicial killings, and that there is no serious evidence to justify the criminal cases against her.

It will send an observer to monitor and report on the respect for fair trial standards in the cases before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, should they move ahead.

De Lima has been in detention since February 2017 over cases for alleged conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading pending before three Muntinlupa City courts.

The IPU expressed trust that the Supreme Court will give full consideration to the arguments presented by De Lima and her lawyers in the motion for reconsideration she filed regarding the legality of her arrest.

It said it remains shocked at the public campaign of vilification by the highest government authorities against De Lima, which portrays her as an “immoral woman” and as guilty, even though a trial has yet to begin.

The IPU expressed regret that the SC has yet to rule on the matter “thereby missing an important opportunity to condemn and end the public degrading treatment to which she has been subjected as a woman parliamentarian” and called on the High Tribunal to rule on the matter as quickly as possible. 

It also urged the SC, in the event that  De Lima is not immediately released, to grant her occasional “legislative furlough.”

The IPU further urged authorities to grant the senator access to internet, television, and radio as this would greatly facilitate her parliamentary work.

It also expressed hope that the authorities will provide the detained senator an air conditioning unit, as ordered by her doctor. —KG, GMA News