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Alejano scores admin’s alleged double standard on sovereignty issue


Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Friday scored the supposed double standard of the Duterte administration on the issue of sovereignty and foreign interference.

Alejano said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano called out the European Union Parliament for its resolution urging the Philippines to stop the war on drugs which claimed the lives of thousands of people while the government is silent on the militarization in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement earlier in the day, Cayetano said the EU Parliament resolution constitute interference in the affairs of a sovereign state. 

He also warned European legislators against efforts to discredit the government of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Alejano described as "simply preposterous" Cayetano’s assertion of the principles of sovereignty and non-interference.

"I wonder where the Duterte administration gets its audacity to tout such principles when on the other hand, it completely bows down to China's demands," he said in a press statement.

"Kapag European Union na tumutuligsa sa mga patayan sa war on drugs, pakikialam ang tingin ng administrasyon dito," Alejano added. "Pero kapag China na nanghihimasok sa ating mga teritoryo at nanggigipit sa ating mga mangigisda, puro papuri at halos lumuhod pa ang administrasyong Duterte."

He further said even human rights advocates are considered threats to national security, while China's continuous militarization of the South China Sea is being downplayed.

"For the Duterte administration, sovereignty, non-interference, and mutual respect are only asserted when convenient and when they serve their interests. We cannot expect even an inch of sincerity from this administration in preserving these values," said Alejano.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the EU Parliament is interfering with the country’s affairs, "rehashing issues and baseless claims that has been explained adequately by the Philippine government in several official statements."

Apart from calling for an immediate end to the anti-narcotics campaign, the European Parliament also called for the release from detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima, and the removal of United Nations Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz from a government list of individuals with links to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

The resolution also urged members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to consider suspending the Philippines’ membership in the body before its term ends this year. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News

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